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<section id="preamble">

<h1>The Tragedy of King Richard the Second</h1>

<section id="dramatis-personae"><h2>Dramatis Personae</h2>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>KING RICHARD, the Second. </li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="uncles to the King.">
  <li>JOHN OF GAUNT, Duke of Lancaster</li>
  <li>EDMUND OF LANGLEY, Duke of York</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>HENRY, surnamed BOLINGBROKE, Duke of Hereford</li>
  <li>son to John of Gaunt; afterwards King Henry IV.</li>
  <li>DUKE OF AUMERLE, son to the Duke of York.</li>
  <li>THOMAS MOWBRAY, Duke of Norfolk.</li>
  <li>DUKE OF SURREY</li>
  <li>EARL OF SALISBURY</li>
  <li>LORD BERKELEY</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group" data-description="servants to King Richard.">
  <li>BUSHY</li>
  <li>BAGOT</li>
  <li>GREEN</li>
</ol>

<ol class="persona-group">
  <li>EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>HENRY PERCY, surnamed HOTSPUR, his son. </li>
  <li>LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li>LORD FITZWATER</li>
  <li>BISHOP OF CARLISLE</li>
  <li>Abbot Of Westminster</li>
  <li>LORD MARSHAL</li>
  <li>SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</li>
  <li>SIR PIERCE OF EXTON</li>
  <li>Captain of a band of Welshmen. </li>
  <li>QUEEN to King Richard</li>
  <li>DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER</li>
  <li>Lady attending on the Queen. </li>
  <li>Lords, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, two Gardeners, Keeper, Messenger, Groom, and other Attendants. </li>
</ol>

</section>

<div id="scene-description">SCENE  England and Wales.</div>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT I</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  London. KING RICHARD II's palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter KING RICHARD II, JOHN OF GAUNT, with other
Nobles and Attendants</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster,</li>
  <li>Hast thou, according to thy oath and band,</li>
  <li>Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son,</li>
  <li>Here to make good the boisterous late appeal,</li>
  <li class="number">Which then our leisure would not let us hear,</li>
  <li>Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>I have, my liege.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him,</li>
  <li>If he appeal the duke on ancient malice;</li>
  <li class="number">Or worthily, as a good subject should,</li>
  <li>On some known ground of treachery in him?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>As near as I could sift him on that argument,</li>
  <li>On some apparent danger seen in him</li>
  <li>Aim'd at your highness, no inveterate malice.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Then call them to our presence; face to face,</li>
  <li>And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear</li>
  <li>The accuser and the accused freely speak:</li>
  <li>High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire,</li>
  <li>In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE and THOMAS MOWBRAY</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Many years of happy days befal</li>
  <li>My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>Each day still better other's happiness;</li>
  <li>Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap,</li>
  <li>Add an immortal title to your crown!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">We thank you both: yet one but flatters us,</li>
  <li>As well appeareth by the cause you come;</li>
  <li>Namely to appeal each other of high treason.</li>
  <li>Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object</li>
  <li>Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">First, heaven be the record to my speech!</li>
  <li>In the devotion of a subject's love,</li>
  <li>Tendering the precious safety of my prince,</li>
  <li>And free from other misbegotten hate,</li>
  <li>Come I appellant to this princely presence.</li>
  <li class="number">Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee,</li>
  <li>And mark my greeting well; for what I speak</li>
  <li>My body shall make good upon this earth,</li>
  <li>Or my divine soul answer it in heaven.</li>
  <li>Thou art a traitor and a miscreant,</li>
  <li class="number">Too good to be so and too bad to live,</li>
  <li>Since the more fair and crystal is the sky,</li>
  <li>The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.</li>
  <li>Once more, the more to aggravate the note,</li>
  <li>With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat;</li>
  <li class="number">And wish, so please my sovereign, ere I move,</li>
  <li>What my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal:</li>
  <li>'Tis not the trial of a woman's war,</li>
  <li>The bitter clamour of two eager tongues,</li>
  <li class="number">Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain;</li>
  <li>The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this:</li>
  <li>Yet can I not of such tame patience boast</li>
  <li>As to be hush'd and nought at all to say:</li>
  <li>First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me</li>
  <li class="number">From giving reins and spurs to my free speech;</li>
  <li>Which else would post until it had return'd</li>
  <li>These terms of treason doubled down his throat.</li>
  <li>Setting aside his high blood's royalty,</li>
  <li>And let him be no kinsman to my liege,</li>
  <li class="number">I do defy him, and I spit at him;</li>
  <li>Call him a slanderous coward and a villain:</li>
  <li>Which to maintain I would allow him odds,</li>
  <li>And meet him, were I tied to run afoot</li>
  <li>Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps,</li>
  <li class="number">Or any other ground inhabitable,</li>
  <li>Where ever Englishman durst set his foot.</li>
  <li>Mean time let this defend my loyalty,</li>
  <li>By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage,</li>
  <li class="number">Disclaiming here the kindred of the king,</li>
  <li>And lay aside my high blood's royalty,</li>
  <li>Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except.</li>
  <li>If guilty dread have left thee so much strength</li>
  <li>As to take up mine honour's pawn, then stoop:</li>
  <li class="number">By that and all the rites of knighthood else,</li>
  <li>Will I make good against thee, arm to arm,</li>
  <li>What I have spoke, or thou canst worse devise.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>I take it up; and by that sword I swear</li>
  <li>Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder,</li>
  <li class="number">I'll answer thee in any fair degree,</li>
  <li>Or chivalrous design of knightly trial:</li>
  <li>And when I mount, alive may I not light,</li>
  <li>If I be traitor or unjustly fight!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge?</li>
  <li class="number">It must be great that can inherit us</li>
  <li>So much as of a thought of ill in him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Look, what I speak, my life shall prove it true;</li>
  <li>That Mowbray hath received eight thousand nobles</li>
  <li>In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers,</li>
  <li class="number">The which he hath detain'd for lewd employments,</li>
  <li>Like a false traitor and injurious villain.</li>
  <li>Besides I say and will in battle prove,</li>
  <li>Or here or elsewhere to the furthest verge</li>
  <li>That ever was survey'd by English eye,</li>
  <li class="number">That all the treasons for these eighteen years</li>
  <li>Complotted and contrived in this land</li>
  <li>Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring.</li>
  <li>Further I say and further will maintain</li>
  <li>Upon his bad life to make all this good,</li>
  <li class="number">That he did plot the Duke of Gloucester's death,</li>
  <li>Suggest his soon-believing adversaries,</li>
  <li>And consequently, like a traitor coward,</li>
  <li>Sluiced out his innocent soul through streams of blood:</li>
  <li>Which blood, like sacrificing Abel's, cries,</li>
  <li class="number">Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth,</li>
  <li>To me for justice and rough chastisement;</li>
  <li>And, by the glorious worth of my descent,</li>
  <li>This arm shall do it, or this life be spent.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>How high a pitch his resolution soars!</li>
  <li class="number">Thomas of Norfolk, what say'st thou to this?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>O, let my sovereign turn away his face</li>
  <li>And bid his ears a little while be deaf,</li>
  <li>Till I have told this slander of his blood,</li>
  <li>How God and good men hate so foul a liar.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and ears:</li>
  <li>Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir,</li>
  <li>As he is but my father's brother's son,</li>
  <li>Now, by my sceptre's awe, I make a vow,</li>
  <li>Such neighbour nearness to our sacred blood</li>
  <li class="number">Should nothing privilege him, nor partialize</li>
  <li>The unstooping firmness of my upright soul:</li>
  <li>He is our subject, Mowbray; so art thou:</li>
  <li>Free speech and fearless I to thee allow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart,</li>
  <li class="number">Through the false passage of thy throat, thou liest.</li>
  <li>Three parts of that receipt I had for Calais</li>
  <li>Disbursed I duly to his highness' soldiers;</li>
  <li>The other part reserved I by consent,</li>
  <li>For that my sovereign liege was in my debt</li>
  <li class="number">Upon remainder of a dear account,</li>
  <li>Since last I went to France to fetch his queen:</li>
  <li>Now swallow down that lie. For Gloucester's death,</li>
  <li>I slew him not; but to my own disgrace</li>
  <li>Neglected my sworn duty in that case.</li>
  <li class="number">For you, my noble Lord of Lancaster,</li>
  <li>The honourable father to my foe</li>
  <li>Once did I lay an ambush for your life,</li>
  <li>A trespass that doth vex my grieved soul</li>
  <li>But ere I last received the sacrament</li>
  <li class="number">I did confess it, and exactly begg'd</li>
  <li>Your grace's pardon, and I hope I had it.</li>
  <li>This is my fault: as for the rest appeall'd,</li>
  <li>It issues from the rancour of a villain,</li>
  <li>A recreant and most degenerate traitor</li>
  <li class="number">Which in myself I boldly will defend;</li>
  <li>And interchangeably hurl down my gage</li>
  <li>Upon this overweening traitor's foot,</li>
  <li>To prove myself a loyal gentleman</li>
  <li>Even in the best blood chamber'd in his bosom.</li>
  <li class="number">In haste whereof, most heartily I pray</li>
  <li>Your highness to assign our trial day.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be ruled by me;</li>
  <li>Let's purge this choler without letting blood:</li>
  <li>This we prescribe, though no physician;</li>
  <li class="number">Deep malice makes too deep incision;</li>
  <li>Forget, forgive; conclude and be agreed;</li>
  <li>Our doctors say this is no month to bleed.</li>
  <li>Good uncle, let this end where it begun;</li>
  <li>We'll calm the Duke of Norfolk, you your son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li class="number">To be a make-peace shall become my age:</li>
  <li>Throw down, my son, the Duke of Norfolk's gage.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>And, Norfolk, throw down his.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>When, Harry, when?</li>
  <li>Obedience bids I should not bid again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Norfolk, throw down, we bid; there is no boot.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot.</li>
  <li>My life thou shalt command, but not my shame:</li>
  <li>The one my duty owes; but my fair name,</li>
  <li>Despite of death that lives upon my grave,</li>
  <li class="number">To dark dishonour's use thou shalt not have.</li>
  <li>I am disgraced, impeach'd and baffled here,</li>
  <li>Pierced to the soul with slander's venom'd spear,</li>
  <li>The which no balm can cure but his heart-blood</li>
  <li>Which breathed this poison.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Rage must be withstood:</li>
  <li>Give me his gage: lions make leopards tame.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>Yea, but not change his spots: take but my shame.</li>
  <li>And I resign my gage. My dear dear lord,</li>
  <li>The purest treasure mortal times afford</li>
  <li class="number">Is spotless reputation: that away,</li>
  <li>Men are but gilded loam or painted clay.</li>
  <li>A jewel in a ten-times-barr'd-up chest</li>
  <li>Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast.</li>
  <li>Mine honour is my life; both grow in one:</li>
  <li class="number">Take honour from me, and my life is done:</li>
  <li>Then, dear my liege, mine honour let me try;</li>
  <li>In that I live and for that will I die.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Cousin, throw up your gage; do you begin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>O, God defend my soul from such deep sin!</li>
  <li class="number">Shall I seem crest-fall'n in my father's sight?</li>
  <li>Or with pale beggar-fear impeach my height</li>
  <li>Before this out-dared dastard? Ere my tongue</li>
  <li>Shall wound my honour with such feeble wrong,</li>
  <li>Or sound so base a parle, my teeth shall tear</li>
  <li class="number">The slavish motive of recanting fear,</li>
  <li>And spit it bleeding in his high disgrace,</li>
  <li>Where shame doth harbour, even in Mowbray's face.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit JOHN OF GAUNT</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>We were not born to sue, but to command;</li>
  <li>Which since we cannot do to make you friends,</li>
  <li class="number">Be ready, as your lives shall answer it,</li>
  <li>At Coventry, upon Saint Lambert's day:</li>
  <li>There shall your swords and lances arbitrate</li>
  <li>The swelling difference of your settled hate:</li>
  <li>Since we can not atone you, we shall see</li>
  <li class="number">Justice design the victor's chivalry.</li>
  <li>Lord marshal, command our officers at arms</li>
  <li>Be ready to direct these home alarms.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The DUKE OF LANCASTER'S palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter JOHN OF GAUNT with DUCHESS</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Alas, the part I had in Woodstock's blood</li>
  <li>Doth more solicit me than your exclaims,</li>
  <li>To stir against the butchers of his life!</li>
  <li>But since correction lieth in those hands</li>
  <li class="number">Which made the fault that we cannot correct,</li>
  <li>Put we our quarrel to the will of heaven;</li>
  <li>Who, when they see the hours ripe on earth,</li>
  <li>Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS</li>
  <li>Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur?</li>
  <li class="number">Hath love in thy old blood no living fire?</li>
  <li>Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one,</li>
  <li>Were as seven vials of his sacred blood,</li>
  <li>Or seven fair branches springing from one root:</li>
  <li>Some of those seven are dried by nature's course,</li>
  <li class="number">Some of those branches by the Destinies cut;</li>
  <li>But Thomas, my dear lord, my life, my Gloucester,</li>
  <li>One vial full of Edward's sacred blood,</li>
  <li>One flourishing branch of his most royal root,</li>
  <li>Is crack'd, and all the precious liquor spilt,</li>
  <li class="number">Is hack'd down, and his summer leaves all faded,</li>
  <li>By envy's hand and murder's bloody axe.</li>
  <li>Ah, Gaunt, his blood was thine! that bed, that womb,</li>
  <li>That metal, that self-mould, that fashion'd thee</li>
  <li>Made him a man; and though thou livest and breathest,</li>
  <li class="number">Yet art thou slain in him: thou dost consent</li>
  <li>In some large measure to thy father's death,</li>
  <li>In that thou seest thy wretched brother die,</li>
  <li>Who was the model of thy father's life.</li>
  <li>Call it not patience, Gaunt; it is despair:</li>
  <li class="number">In suffering thus thy brother to be slaughter'd,</li>
  <li>Thou showest the naked pathway to thy life,</li>
  <li>Teaching stern murder how to butcher thee:</li>
  <li>That which in mean men we intitle patience</li>
  <li>Is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts.</li>
  <li class="number">What shall I say? to safeguard thine own life,</li>
  <li>The best way is to venge my Gloucester's death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>God's is the quarrel; for God's substitute,</li>
  <li>His deputy anointed in His sight,</li>
  <li>Hath caused his death: the which if wrongfully,</li>
  <li class="number">Let heaven revenge; for I may never lift</li>
  <li>An angry arm against His minister.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS</li>
  <li>Where then, alas, may I complain myself?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>To God, the widow's champion and defence.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS</li>
  <li>Why, then, I will. Farewell, old Gaunt.</li>
  <li class="number">Thou goest to Coventry, there to behold</li>
  <li>Our cousin Hereford and fell Mowbray fight:</li>
  <li>O, sit my husband's wrongs on Hereford's spear,</li>
  <li>That it may enter butcher Mowbray's breast!</li>
  <li>Or, if misfortune miss the first career,</li>
  <li class="number">Be Mowbray's sins so heavy in his bosom,</li>
  <li>They may break his foaming courser's back,</li>
  <li>And throw the rider headlong in the lists,</li>
  <li>A caitiff recreant to my cousin Hereford!</li>
  <li>Farewell, old Gaunt: thy sometimes brother's wife</li>
  <li class="number">With her companion grief must end her life.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Sister, farewell; I must to Coventry:</li>
  <li>As much good stay with thee as go with me!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS</li>
  <li>Yet one word more: grief boundeth where it falls,</li>
  <li>Not with the empty hollowness, but weight:</li>
  <li class="number">I take my leave before I have begun,</li>
  <li>For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done.</li>
  <li>Commend me to thy brother, Edmund York.</li>
  <li>Lo, this is all: — nay, yet depart not so;</li>
  <li>Though this be all, do not so quickly go;</li>
  <li class="number">I shall remember more. Bid him — ah, what? — </li>
  <li>With all good speed at Plashy visit me.</li>
  <li>Alack, and what shall good old York there see</li>
  <li>But empty lodgings and unfurnish'd walls,</li>
  <li>Unpeopled offices, untrodden stones?</li>
  <li class="number">And what hear there for welcome but my groans?</li>
  <li>Therefore commend me; let him not come there,</li>
  <li>To seek out sorrow that dwells every where.</li>
  <li>Desolate, desolate, will I hence and die:</li>
  <li>The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  The lists at Coventry.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter the Lord Marshal and the DUKE OF AUMERLE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>My Lord Aumerle, is Harry Hereford arm'd?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Yea, at all points; and longs to enter in.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>The Duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and bold,</li>
  <li>Stays but the summons of the appellant's trumpet.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">Why, then, the champions are prepared, and stay</li>
  <li>For nothing but his majesty's approach.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">The trumpets sound, and KING RICHARD enters with
his nobles, JOHN OF GAUNT, BUSHY, BAGOT, GREEN, and
others. When they are set, enter THOMAS MOWBRAY in
arms, defendant, with a Herald</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Marshal, demand of yonder champion</li>
  <li>The cause of his arrival here in arms:</li>
  <li>Ask him his name and orderly proceed</li>
  <li class="number">To swear him in the justice of his cause.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>In God's name and the king's, say who thou art</li>
  <li>And why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms,</li>
  <li>Against what man thou comest, and what thy quarrel:</li>
  <li>Speak truly, on thy knighthood and thy oath;</li>
  <li class="number">As so defend thee heaven and thy valour!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>My name is Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk;</li>
  <li>Who hither come engaged by my oath — </li>
  <li>Which God defend a knight should violate! — </li>
  <li>Both to defend my loyalty and truth</li>
  <li class="number">To God, my king and my succeeding issue,</li>
  <li>Against the Duke of Hereford that appeals me</li>
  <li>And, by the grace of God and this mine arm,</li>
  <li>To prove him, in defending of myself,</li>
  <li>A traitor to my God, my king, and me:</li>
  <li class="number">And as I truly fight, defend me heaven!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">The trumpets sound. Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE,
appellant, in armour, with a Herald</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms,</li>
  <li>Both who he is and why he cometh hither</li>
  <li>Thus plated in habiliments of war,</li>
  <li>And formally, according to our law,</li>
  <li class="number">Depose him in the justice of his cause.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>What is thy name? and wherefore comest thou hither,</li>
  <li>Before King Richard in his royal lists?</li>
  <li>Against whom comest thou? and what's thy quarrel?</li>
  <li>Speak like a true knight, so defend thee heaven!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby</li>
  <li>Am I; who ready here do stand in arms,</li>
  <li>To prove, by God's grace and my body's valour,</li>
  <li>In lists, on Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk,</li>
  <li>That he is a traitor, foul and dangerous,</li>
  <li class="number">To God of heaven, King Richard and to me;</li>
  <li>And as I truly fight, defend me heaven!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>On pain of death, no person be so bold</li>
  <li>Or daring-hardy as to touch the lists,</li>
  <li>Except the marshal and such officers</li>
  <li class="number">Appointed to direct these fair designs.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Lord marshal, let me kiss my sovereign's hand,</li>
  <li>And bow my knee before his majesty:</li>
  <li>For Mowbray and myself are like two men</li>
  <li>That vow a long and weary pilgrimage;</li>
  <li class="number">Then let us take a ceremonious leave</li>
  <li>And loving farewell of our several friends.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>The appellant in all duty greets your highness,</li>
  <li>And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>We will descend and fold him in our arms.</li>
  <li class="number">Cousin of Hereford, as thy cause is right,</li>
  <li>So be thy fortune in this royal fight!</li>
  <li>Farewell, my blood; which if to-day thou shed,</li>
  <li>Lament we may, but not revenge thee dead.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>O let no noble eye profane a tear</li>
  <li class="number">For me, if I be gored with Mowbray's spear:</li>
  <li>As confident as is the falcon's flight</li>
  <li>Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight.</li>
  <li>My loving lord, I take my leave of you;</li>
  <li>Of you, my noble cousin, Lord Aumerle;</li>
  <li class="number">Not sick, although I have to do with death,</li>
  <li>But lusty, young, and cheerly drawing breath.</li>
  <li>Lo, as at English feasts, so I regreet</li>
  <li>The daintiest last, to make the end most sweet:</li>
  <li>O thou, the earthly author of my blood,</li>
  <li class="number">Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate,</li>
  <li>Doth with a twofold vigour lift me up</li>
  <li>To reach at victory above my head,</li>
  <li>Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers;</li>
  <li>And with thy blessings steel my lance's point,</li>
  <li class="number">That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat,</li>
  <li>And furbish new the name of John a Gaunt,</li>
  <li>Even in the lusty havior of his son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>God in thy good cause make thee prosperous!</li>
  <li>Be swift like lightning in the execution;</li>
  <li class="number">And let thy blows, doubly redoubled,</li>
  <li>Fall like amazing thunder on the casque</li>
  <li>Of thy adverse pernicious enemy:</li>
  <li>Rouse up thy youthful blood, be valiant and live.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li class="number">However God or fortune cast my lot,</li>
  <li>There lives or dies, true to King Richard's throne,</li>
  <li>A loyal, just and upright gentleman:</li>
  <li>Never did captive with a freer heart</li>
  <li>Cast off his chains of bondage and embrace</li>
  <li class="number">His golden uncontroll'd enfranchisement,</li>
  <li>More than my dancing soul doth celebrate</li>
  <li>This feast of battle with mine adversary.</li>
  <li>Most mighty liege, and my companion peers,</li>
  <li>Take from my mouth the wish of happy years:</li>
  <li class="number">As gentle and as jocund as to jest</li>
  <li>Go I to fight: truth hath a quiet breast.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Farewell, my lord: securely I espy</li>
  <li>Virtue with valour couched in thine eye.</li>
  <li>Order the trial, marshal, and begin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li class="number">Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby,</li>
  <li>Receive thy lance; and God defend the right!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Strong as a tower in hope, I cry amen.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>Go bear this lance to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">First Herald</li>
  <li>Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby,</li>
  <li class="number">Stands here for God, his sovereign and himself,</li>
  <li>On pain to be found false and recreant,</li>
  <li>To prove the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray,</li>
  <li>A traitor to his God, his king and him;</li>
  <li>And dares him to set forward to the fight.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Second Herald</li>
  <li class="number">Here standeth Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk,</li>
  <li>On pain to be found false and recreant,</li>
  <li>Both to defend himself and to approve</li>
  <li>Henry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby,</li>
  <li>To God, his sovereign and to him disloyal;</li>
  <li class="number">Courageously and with a free desire</li>
  <li>Attending but the signal to begin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>Sound, trumpets; and set forward, combatants.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">A charge sounded</li>
  <li>Stay, the king hath thrown his warder down.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Let them lay by their helmets and their spears,</li>
  <li class="number">And both return back to their chairs again:</li>
  <li>Withdraw with us: and let the trumpets sound</li>
  <li>While we return these dukes what we decree.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">A long flourish</li>
  <li>Draw near,</li>
  <li>And list what with our council we have done.</li>
  <li class="number">For that our kingdom's earth should not be soil'd</li>
  <li>With that dear blood which it hath fostered;</li>
  <li>And for our eyes do hate the dire aspect</li>
  <li>Of civil wounds plough'd up with neighbours' sword;</li>
  <li>And for we think the eagle-winged pride</li>
  <li class="number">Of sky-aspiring and ambitious thoughts,</li>
  <li>With rival-hating envy, set on you</li>
  <li>To wake our peace, which in our country's cradle</li>
  <li>Draws the sweet infant breath of gentle sleep;</li>
  <li>Which so roused up with boisterous untuned drums,</li>
  <li class="number">With harsh resounding trumpets' dreadful bray,</li>
  <li>And grating shock of wrathful iron arms,</li>
  <li>Might from our quiet confines fright fair peace</li>
  <li>And make us wade even in our kindred's blood,</li>
  <li>Therefore, we banish you our territories:</li>
  <li class="number">You, cousin Hereford, upon pain of life,</li>
  <li>Till twice five summers have enrich'd our fields</li>
  <li>Shall not regreet our fair dominions,</li>
  <li>But tread the stranger paths of banishment.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Your will be done: this must my comfort be,</li>
  <li class="number">Sun that warms you here shall shine on me;</li>
  <li>And those his golden beams to you here lent</li>
  <li>Shall point on me and gild my banishment.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Norfolk, for thee remains a heavier doom,</li>
  <li>Which I with some unwillingness pronounce:</li>
  <li class="number">The sly slow hours shall not determinate</li>
  <li>The dateless limit of thy dear exile;</li>
  <li>The hopeless word of 'never to return'</li>
  <li>Breathe I against thee, upon pain of life.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>A heavy sentence, my most sovereign liege,</li>
  <li class="number">And all unlook'd for from your highness' mouth:</li>
  <li>A dearer merit, not so deep a maim</li>
  <li>As to be cast forth in the common air,</li>
  <li>Have I deserved at your highness' hands.</li>
  <li>The language I have learn'd these forty years,</li>
  <li class="number">My native English, now I must forego:</li>
  <li>And now my tongue's use is to me no more</li>
  <li>Than an unstringed viol or a harp,</li>
  <li>Or like a cunning instrument cased up,</li>
  <li>Or, being open, put into his hands</li>
  <li class="number">That knows no touch to tune the harmony:</li>
  <li>Within my mouth you have engaol'd my tongue,</li>
  <li>Doubly portcullis'd with my teeth and lips;</li>
  <li>And dull unfeeling barren ignorance</li>
  <li>Is made my gaoler to attend on me.</li>
  <li class="number">I am too old to fawn upon a nurse,</li>
  <li>Too far in years to be a pupil now:</li>
  <li>What is thy sentence then but speechless death,</li>
  <li>Which robs my tongue from breathing native breath?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>It boots thee not to be compassionate:</li>
  <li class="number">After our sentence plaining comes too late.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>Then thus I turn me from my country's light,</li>
  <li>To dwell in solemn shades of endless night.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Return again, and take an oath with thee.</li>
  <li>Lay on our royal sword your banish'd hands;</li>
  <li class="number">Swear by the duty that you owe to God — </li>
  <li>Our part therein we banish with yourselves — </li>
  <li>To keep the oath that we administer:</li>
  <li>You never shall, so help you truth and God!</li>
  <li>Embrace each other's love in banishment;</li>
  <li class="number">Nor never look upon each other's face;</li>
  <li>Nor never write, regreet, nor reconcile</li>
  <li>This louring tempest of your home-bred hate;</li>
  <li>Nor never by advised purpose meet</li>
  <li>To plot, contrive, or complot any ill</li>
  <li class="number">'Gainst us, our state, our subjects, or our land.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>I swear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>And I, to keep all this.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Norfolk, so far as to mine enemy: — </li>
  <li>By this time, had the king permitted us,</li>
  <li class="number">One of our souls had wander'd in the air.</li>
  <li>Banish'd this frail sepulchre of our flesh,</li>
  <li>As now our flesh is banish'd from this land:</li>
  <li>Confess thy treasons ere thou fly the realm;</li>
  <li>Since thou hast far to go, bear not along</li>
  <li class="number">The clogging burthen of a guilty soul.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">THOMAS MOWBRAY</li>
  <li>No, Bolingbroke: if ever I were traitor,</li>
  <li>My name be blotted from the book of life,</li>
  <li>And I from heaven banish'd as from hence!</li>
  <li>But what thou art, God, thou, and I do know;</li>
  <li class="number">And all too soon, I fear, the king shall rue.</li>
  <li>Farewell, my liege. Now no way can I stray;</li>
  <li>Save back to England, all the world's my way.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Uncle, even in the glasses of thine eyes</li>
  <li>I see thy grieved heart: thy sad aspect</li>
  <li class="number">Hath from the number of his banish'd years</li>
  <li>Pluck'd four away.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Six frozen winter spent,</li>
  <li>Return with welcome home from banishment.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>How long a time lies in one little word!</li>
  <li class="number">Four lagging winters and four wanton springs</li>
  <li>End in a word: such is the breath of kings.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>I thank my liege, that in regard of me</li>
  <li>He shortens four years of my son's exile:</li>
  <li>But little vantage shall I reap thereby;</li>
  <li class="number">For, ere the six years that he hath to spend</li>
  <li>Can change their moons and bring their times about</li>
  <li>My oil-dried lamp and time-bewasted light</li>
  <li>Shall be extinct with age and endless night;</li>
  <li>My inch of taper will be burnt and done,</li>
  <li class="number">And blindfold death not let me see my son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Why uncle, thou hast many years to live.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>But not a minute, king, that thou canst give:</li>
  <li>Shorten my days thou canst with sullen sorrow,</li>
  <li>And pluck nights from me, but not lend a morrow;</li>
  <li class="number">Thou canst help time to furrow me with age,</li>
  <li>But stop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage;</li>
  <li>Thy word is current with him for my death,</li>
  <li>But dead, thy kingdom cannot buy my breath.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Thy son is banish'd upon good advice,</li>
  <li class="number">Whereto thy tongue a party-verdict gave:</li>
  <li>Why at our justice seem'st thou then to lour?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour.</li>
  <li>You urged me as a judge; but I had rather</li>
  <li>You would have bid me argue like a father.</li>
  <li class="number">O, had it been a stranger, not my child,</li>
  <li>To smooth his fault I should have been more mild:</li>
  <li>A partial slander sought I to avoid,</li>
  <li>And in the sentence my own life destroy'd.</li>
  <li>Alas, I look'd when some of you should say,</li>
  <li class="number">I was too strict to make mine own away;</li>
  <li>But you gave leave to my unwilling tongue</li>
  <li>Against my will to do myself this wrong.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Cousin, farewell; and, uncle, bid him so:</li>
  <li>Six years we banish him, and he shall go.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. Exeunt KING RICHARD II and train</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">Cousin, farewell: what presence must not know,</li>
  <li>From where you do remain let paper show.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord Marshal</li>
  <li>My lord, no leave take I; for I will ride,</li>
  <li>As far as land will let me, by your side.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>O, to what purpose dost thou hoard thy words,</li>
  <li class="number">That thou return'st no greeting to thy friends?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>I have too few to take my leave of you,</li>
  <li>When the tongue's office should be prodigal</li>
  <li>To breathe the abundant dolour of the heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Thy grief is but thy absence for a time.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Joy absent, grief is present for that time.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>What is six winters? they are quickly gone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>To men in joy; but grief makes one hour ten.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Call it a travel that thou takest for pleasure.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>My heart will sigh when I miscall it so,</li>
  <li class="number">Which finds it an inforced pilgrimage.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>The sullen passage of thy weary steps</li>
  <li>Esteem as foil wherein thou art to set</li>
  <li>The precious jewel of thy home return.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Nay, rather, every tedious stride I make</li>
  <li class="number">Will but remember me what a deal of world</li>
  <li>I wander from the jewels that I love.</li>
  <li>Must I not serve a long apprenticehood</li>
  <li>To foreign passages, and in the end,</li>
  <li>Having my freedom, boast of nothing else</li>
  <li class="number">But that I was a journeyman to grief?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>All places that the eye of heaven visits</li>
  <li>Are to a wise man ports and happy havens.</li>
  <li>Teach thy necessity to reason thus;</li>
  <li>There is no virtue like necessity.</li>
  <li class="number">Think not the king did banish thee,</li>
  <li>But thou the king. Woe doth the heavier sit,</li>
  <li>Where it perceives it is but faintly borne.</li>
  <li>Go, say I sent thee forth to purchase honour</li>
  <li>And not the king exiled thee; or suppose</li>
  <li class="number">Devouring pestilence hangs in our air</li>
  <li>And thou art flying to a fresher clime:</li>
  <li>Look, what thy soul holds dear, imagine it</li>
  <li>To lie that way thou go'st, not whence thou comest:</li>
  <li>Suppose the singing birds musicians,</li>
  <li class="number">The grass whereon thou tread'st the presence strew'd,</li>
  <li>The flowers fair ladies, and thy steps no more</li>
  <li>Than a delightful measure or a dance;</li>
  <li>For gnarling sorrow hath less power to bite</li>
  <li>The man that mocks at it and sets it light.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">O, who can hold a fire in his hand</li>
  <li>By thinking on the frosty Caucasus?</li>
  <li>Or cloy the hungry edge of appetite</li>
  <li>By bare imagination of a feast?</li>
  <li>Or wallow naked in December snow</li>
  <li class="number">By thinking on fantastic summer's heat?</li>
  <li>O, no! the apprehension of the good</li>
  <li>Gives but the greater feeling to the worse:</li>
  <li>Fell sorrow's tooth doth never rankle more</li>
  <li>Than when he bites, but lanceth not the sore.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li class="number">Come, come, my son, I'll bring thee on thy way:</li>
  <li>Had I thy youth and cause, I would not stay.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Then, England's ground, farewell; sweet soil, adieu;</li>
  <li>My mother, and my nurse, that bears me yet!</li>
  <li>Where'er I wander, boast of this I can,</li>
  <li class="number">Though banish'd, yet a trueborn Englishman.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE IV.  The court.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter KING RICHARD II, with BAGOT and GREEN at one
door; and the DUKE OF AUMERLE at another</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>We did observe. Cousin Aumerle,</li>
  <li>How far brought you high Hereford on his way?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>I brought high Hereford, if you call him so,</li>
  <li>But to the next highway, and there I left him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">And say, what store of parting tears were shed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Faith, none for me; except the north-east wind,</li>
  <li>Which then blew bitterly against our faces,</li>
  <li>Awaked the sleeping rheum, and so by chance</li>
  <li>Did grace our hollow parting with a tear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">What said our cousin when you parted with him?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>'Farewell:'</li>
  <li>And, for my heart disdained that my tongue</li>
  <li>Should so profane the word, that taught me craft</li>
  <li>To counterfeit oppression of such grief</li>
  <li class="number">That words seem'd buried in my sorrow's grave.</li>
  <li>Marry, would the word 'farewell' have lengthen'd hours</li>
  <li>And added years to his short banishment,</li>
  <li>He should have had a volume of farewells;</li>
  <li>But since it would not, he had none of me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">He is our cousin, cousin; but 'tis doubt,</li>
  <li>When time shall call him home from banishment,</li>
  <li>Whether our kinsman come to see his friends.</li>
  <li>Ourself and Bushy, Bagot here and Green</li>
  <li>Observed his courtship to the common people;</li>
  <li class="number">How he did seem to dive into their hearts</li>
  <li>With humble and familiar courtesy,</li>
  <li>What reverence he did throw away on slaves,</li>
  <li>Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles</li>
  <li>And patient underbearing of his fortune,</li>
  <li class="number">As 'twere to banish their affects with him.</li>
  <li>Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench;</li>
  <li>A brace of draymen bid God speed him well</li>
  <li>And had the tribute of his supple knee,</li>
  <li>With 'Thanks, my countrymen, my loving friends;'</li>
  <li class="number">As were our England in reversion his,</li>
  <li>And he our subjects' next degree in hope.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>Well, he is gone; and with him go these thoughts.</li>
  <li>Now for the rebels which stand out in Ireland,</li>
  <li>Expedient manage must be made, my liege,</li>
  <li class="number">Ere further leisure yield them further means</li>
  <li>For their advantage and your highness' loss.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>We will ourself in person to this war:</li>
  <li>And, for our coffers, with too great a court</li>
  <li>And liberal largess, are grown somewhat light,</li>
  <li class="number">We are inforced to farm our royal realm;</li>
  <li>The revenue whereof shall furnish us</li>
  <li>For our affairs in hand: if that come short,</li>
  <li>Our substitutes at home shall have blank charters;</li>
  <li>Whereto, when they shall know what men are rich,</li>
  <li class="number">They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold</li>
  <li>And send them after to supply our wants;</li>
  <li>For we will make for Ireland presently.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter BUSHY</li>
  <li>Bushy, what news?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my lord,</li>
  <li class="number">Suddenly taken; and hath sent post haste</li>
  <li>To entreat your majesty to visit him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Where lies he?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>At Ely House.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Now put it, God, in the physician's mind</li>
  <li class="number">To help him to his grave immediately!</li>
  <li>The lining of his coffers shall make coats</li>
  <li>To deck our soldiers for these Irish wars.</li>
  <li>Come, gentlemen, let's all go visit him:</li>
  <li>Pray God we may make haste, and come too late!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">All</li>
  <li class="number">Amen.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT II</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Ely House.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter JOHN OF GAUNT sick, with the DUKE OF YORK,
etc.</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Will the king come, that I may breathe my last</li>
  <li>In wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Vex not yourself, nor strive not with your breath;</li>
  <li>For all in vain comes counsel to his ear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li class="number">O, but they say the tongues of dying men</li>
  <li>Enforce attention like deep harmony:</li>
  <li>Where words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain,</li>
  <li>For they breathe truth that breathe their words in pain.</li>
  <li>He that no more must say is listen'd more</li>
  <li class="number">Than they whom youth and ease have taught to glose;</li>
  <li>More are men's ends mark'd than their lives before:</li>
  <li>The setting sun, and music at the close,</li>
  <li>As the last taste of sweets, is sweetest last,</li>
  <li>Writ in remembrance more than things long past:</li>
  <li class="number">Though Richard my life's counsel would not hear,</li>
  <li>My death's sad tale may yet undeaf his ear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>No; it is stopp'd with other flattering sounds,</li>
  <li>As praises, of whose taste the wise are fond,</li>
  <li>Lascivious metres, to whose venom sound</li>
  <li class="number">The open ear of youth doth always listen;</li>
  <li>Report of fashions in proud Italy,</li>
  <li>Whose manners still our tardy apish nation</li>
  <li>Limps after in base imitation.</li>
  <li>Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity — </li>
  <li class="number">So it be new, there's no respect how vile — </li>
  <li>That is not quickly buzzed into his ears?</li>
  <li>Then all too late comes counsel to be heard,</li>
  <li>Where will doth mutiny with wit's regard.</li>
  <li>Direct not him whose way himself will choose:</li>
  <li class="number">'Tis breath thou lack'st, and that breath wilt thou lose.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Methinks I am a prophet new inspired</li>
  <li>And thus expiring do foretell of him:</li>
  <li>His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last,</li>
  <li>For violent fires soon burn out themselves;</li>
  <li class="number">Small showers last long, but sudden storms are short;</li>
  <li>He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes;</li>
  <li>With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder:</li>
  <li>Light vanity, insatiate cormorant,</li>
  <li>Consuming means, soon preys upon itself.</li>
  <li class="number">This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,</li>
  <li>This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,</li>
  <li>This other Eden, demi-paradise,</li>
  <li>This fortress built by Nature for herself</li>
  <li>Against infection and the hand of war,</li>
  <li class="number">This happy breed of men, this little world,</li>
  <li>This precious stone set in the silver sea,</li>
  <li>Which serves it in the office of a wall,</li>
  <li>Or as a moat defensive to a house,</li>
  <li>Against the envy of less happier lands,</li>
  <li class="number">This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,</li>
  <li>This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings,</li>
  <li>Fear'd by their breed and famous by their birth,</li>
  <li>Renowned for their deeds as far from home,</li>
  <li>For Christian service and true chivalry,</li>
  <li class="number">As is the sepulchre in stubborn Jewry,</li>
  <li>Of the world's ransom, blessed Mary's Son,</li>
  <li>This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land,</li>
  <li>Dear for her reputation through the world,</li>
  <li>Is now leased out, I die pronouncing it,</li>
  <li class="number">Like to a tenement or pelting farm:</li>
  <li>England, bound in with the triumphant sea</li>
  <li>Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege</li>
  <li>Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with shame,</li>
  <li>With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds:</li>
  <li class="number">That England, that was wont to conquer others,</li>
  <li>Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.</li>
  <li>Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life,</li>
  <li>How happy then were my ensuing death!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter KING RICHARD II and QUEEN, DUKE OF AUMERLE,
BUSHY, GREEN, BAGOT, LORD ROSS, and LORD
WILLOUGHBY</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>The king is come: deal mildly with his youth;</li>
  <li class="number">For young hot colts being raged do rage the more.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>How fares our noble uncle, Lancaster?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>What comfort, man? how is't with aged Gaunt?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>O how that name befits my composition!</li>
  <li>Old Gaunt indeed, and gaunt in being old:</li>
  <li class="number">Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast;</li>
  <li>And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt?</li>
  <li>For sleeping England long time have I watch'd;</li>
  <li>Watching breeds leanness, leanness is all gaunt:</li>
  <li>The pleasure that some fathers feed upon,</li>
  <li class="number">Is my strict fast; I mean, my children's looks;</li>
  <li>And therein fasting, hast thou made me gaunt:</li>
  <li>Gaunt am I for the grave, gaunt as a grave,</li>
  <li>Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Can sick men play so nicely with their names?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li class="number">No, misery makes sport to mock itself:</li>
  <li>Since thou dost seek to kill my name in me,</li>
  <li>I mock my name, great king, to flatter thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Should dying men flatter with those that live?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>No, no, men living flatter those that die.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Thou, now a-dying, say'st thou flatterest me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>O, no! thou diest, though I the sicker be.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>Now He that made me knows I see thee ill;</li>
  <li>Ill in myself to see, and in thee seeing ill.</li>
  <li class="number">Thy death-bed is no lesser than thy land</li>
  <li>Wherein thou liest in reputation sick;</li>
  <li>And thou, too careless patient as thou art,</li>
  <li>Commit'st thy anointed body to the cure</li>
  <li>Of those physicians that first wounded thee:</li>
  <li class="number">A thousand flatterers sit within thy crown,</li>
  <li>Whose compass is no bigger than thy head;</li>
  <li>And yet, incaged in so small a verge,</li>
  <li>The waste is no whit lesser than thy land.</li>
  <li>O, had thy grandsire with a prophet's eye</li>
  <li class="number">Seen how his son's son should destroy his sons,</li>
  <li>From forth thy reach he would have laid thy shame,</li>
  <li>Deposing thee before thou wert possess'd,</li>
  <li>Which art possess'd now to depose thyself.</li>
  <li>Why, cousin, wert thou regent of the world,</li>
  <li class="number">It were a shame to let this land by lease;</li>
  <li>But for thy world enjoying but this land,</li>
  <li>Is it not more than shame to shame it so?</li>
  <li>Landlord of England art thou now, not king:</li>
  <li>Thy state of law is bondslave to the law; And thou — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">A lunatic lean-witted fool,</li>
  <li>Presuming on an ague's privilege,</li>
  <li>Darest with thy frozen admonition</li>
  <li>Make pale our cheek, chasing the royal blood</li>
  <li>With fury from his native residence.</li>
  <li class="number">Now, by my seat's right royal majesty,</li>
  <li>Wert thou not brother to great Edward's son,</li>
  <li>This tongue that runs so roundly in thy head</li>
  <li>Should run thy head from thy unreverent shoulders.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">JOHN OF GAUNT</li>
  <li>O, spare me not, my brother Edward's son,</li>
  <li class="number">For that I was his father Edward's son;</li>
  <li>That blood already, like the pelican,</li>
  <li>Hast thou tapp'd out and drunkenly caroused:</li>
  <li>My brother Gloucester, plain well-meaning soul,</li>
  <li>Whom fair befal in heaven 'mongst happy souls!</li>
  <li class="number">May be a precedent and witness good</li>
  <li>That thou respect'st not spilling Edward's blood:</li>
  <li>Join with the present sickness that I have;</li>
  <li>And thy unkindness be like crooked age,</li>
  <li>To crop at once a too long wither'd flower.</li>
  <li class="number">Live in thy shame, but die not shame with thee!</li>
  <li>These words hereafter thy tormentors be!</li>
  <li>Convey me to my bed, then to my grave:</li>
  <li>Love they to live that love and honour have.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit, borne off by his Attendants</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>And let them die that age and sullens have;</li>
  <li class="number">For both hast thou, and both become the grave.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>I do beseech your majesty, impute his words</li>
  <li>To wayward sickliness and age in him:</li>
  <li>He loves you, on my life, and holds you dear</li>
  <li>As Harry Duke of Hereford, were he here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Right, you say true: as Hereford's love, so his;</li>
  <li>As theirs, so mine; and all be as it is.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter NORTHUMBERLAND</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>My liege, old Gaunt commends him to your majesty.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>What says he?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Nay, nothing; all is said</li>
  <li class="number">His tongue is now a stringless instrument;</li>
  <li>Words, life and all, old Lancaster hath spent.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Be York the next that must be bankrupt so!</li>
  <li>Though death be poor, it ends a mortal woe.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>The ripest fruit first falls, and so doth he;</li>
  <li class="number">His time is spent, our pilgrimage must be.</li>
  <li>So much for that. Now for our Irish wars:</li>
  <li>We must supplant those rough rug-headed kerns,</li>
  <li>Which live like venom where no venom else</li>
  <li>But only they have privilege to live.</li>
  <li class="number">And for these great affairs do ask some charge,</li>
  <li>Towards our assistance we do seize to us</li>
  <li>The plate, corn, revenues and moveables,</li>
  <li>Whereof our uncle Gaunt did stand possess'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>How long shall I be patient? ah, how long</li>
  <li class="number">Shall tender duty make me suffer wrong?</li>
  <li>Not Gloucester's death, nor Hereford's banishment</li>
  <li>Not Gaunt's rebukes, nor England's private wrongs,</li>
  <li>Nor the prevention of poor Bolingbroke</li>
  <li>About his marriage, nor my own disgrace,</li>
  <li class="number">Have ever made me sour my patient cheek,</li>
  <li>Or bend one wrinkle on my sovereign's face.</li>
  <li>I am the last of noble Edward's sons,</li>
  <li>Of whom thy father, Prince of Wales, was first:</li>
  <li>In war was never lion raged more fierce,</li>
  <li class="number">In peace was never gentle lamb more mild,</li>
  <li>Than was that young and princely gentleman.</li>
  <li>His face thou hast, for even so look'd he,</li>
  <li>Accomplish'd with the number of thy hours;</li>
  <li>But when he frown'd, it was against the French</li>
  <li class="number">And not against his friends; his noble hand</li>
  <li>Did will what he did spend and spent not that</li>
  <li>Which his triumphant father's hand had won;</li>
  <li>His hands were guilty of no kindred blood,</li>
  <li>But bloody with the enemies of his kin.</li>
  <li class="number">O Richard! York is too far gone with grief,</li>
  <li>Or else he never would compare between.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Why, uncle, what's the matter?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>O my liege,</li>
  <li>Pardon me, if you please; if not, I, pleased</li>
  <li class="number">Not to be pardon'd, am content withal.</li>
  <li>Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands</li>
  <li>The royalties and rights of banish'd Hereford?</li>
  <li>Is not Gaunt dead, and doth not Hereford live?</li>
  <li>Was not Gaunt just, and is not Harry true?</li>
  <li class="number">Did not the one deserve to have an heir?</li>
  <li>Is not his heir a well-deserving son?</li>
  <li>Take Hereford's rights away, and take from Time</li>
  <li>His charters and his customary rights;</li>
  <li>Let not to-morrow then ensue to-day;</li>
  <li class="number">Be not thyself; for how art thou a king</li>
  <li>But by fair sequence and succession?</li>
  <li>Now, afore God — God forbid I say true! — </li>
  <li>If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights,</li>
  <li>Call in the letters patent that he hath</li>
  <li class="number">By his attorneys-general to sue</li>
  <li>His livery, and deny his offer'd homage,</li>
  <li>You pluck a thousand dangers on your head,</li>
  <li>You lose a thousand well-disposed hearts</li>
  <li>And prick my tender patience, to those thoughts</li>
  <li class="number">Which honour and allegiance cannot think.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Think what you will, we seize into our hands</li>
  <li>His plate, his goods, his money and his lands.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>I'll not be by the while: my liege, farewell:</li>
  <li>What will ensue hereof, there's none can tell;</li>
  <li class="number">But by bad courses may be understood</li>
  <li>That their events can never fall out good.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Go, Bushy, to the Earl of Wiltshire straight:</li>
  <li>Bid him repair to us to Ely House</li>
  <li>To see this business. To-morrow next</li>
  <li class="number">We will for Ireland; and 'tis time, I trow:</li>
  <li>And we create, in absence of ourself,</li>
  <li>Our uncle York lord governor of England;</li>
  <li>For he is just and always loved us well.</li>
  <li>Come on, our queen: to-morrow must we part;</li>
  <li class="number">Be merry, for our time of stay is short</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. Exeunt KING RICHARD II, QUEEN, DUKE OF
AUMERLE, BUSHY, GREEN, and BAGOT</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Well, lords, the Duke of Lancaster is dead.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>And living too; for now his son is duke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li>Barely in title, not in revenue.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Richly in both, if justice had her right.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li class="number">My heart is great; but it must break with silence,</li>
  <li>Ere't be disburden'd with a liberal tongue.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Nay, speak thy mind; and let him ne'er speak more</li>
  <li>That speaks thy words again to do thee harm!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li>Tends that thou wouldst speak to the Duke of Hereford?</li>
  <li class="number">If it be so, out with it boldly, man;</li>
  <li>Quick is mine ear to hear of good towards him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>No good at all that I can do for him;</li>
  <li>Unless you call it good to pity him,</li>
  <li>Bereft and gelded of his patrimony.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li class="number">Now, afore God, 'tis shame such wrongs are borne</li>
  <li>In him, a royal prince, and many moe</li>
  <li>Of noble blood in this declining land.</li>
  <li>The king is not himself, but basely led</li>
  <li>By flatterers; and what they will inform,</li>
  <li class="number">Merely in hate, 'gainst any of us all,</li>
  <li>That will the king severely prosecute</li>
  <li>'Gainst us, our lives, our children, and our heirs.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>The commons hath he pill'd with grievous taxes,</li>
  <li>And quite lost their hearts: the nobles hath he fined</li>
  <li class="number">For ancient quarrels, and quite lost their hearts.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li>And daily new exactions are devised,</li>
  <li>As blanks, benevolences, and I wot not what:</li>
  <li>But what, o' God's name, doth become of this?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Wars have not wasted it, for warr'd he hath not,</li>
  <li class="number">But basely yielded upon compromise</li>
  <li>That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows:</li>
  <li>More hath he spent in peace than they in wars.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>The Earl of Wiltshire hath the realm in farm.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li>The king's grown bankrupt, like a broken man.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li class="number">Reproach and dissolution hangeth over him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>He hath not money for these Irish wars,</li>
  <li>His burthenous taxations notwithstanding,</li>
  <li>But by the robbing of the banish'd duke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>His noble kinsman: most degenerate king!</li>
  <li class="number">But, lords, we hear this fearful tempest sing,</li>
  <li>Yet see no shelter to avoid the storm;</li>
  <li>We see the wind sit sore upon our sails,</li>
  <li>And yet we strike not, but securely perish.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>We see the very wreck that we must suffer;</li>
  <li class="number">And unavoided is the danger now,</li>
  <li>For suffering so the causes of our wreck.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Not so; even through the hollow eyes of death</li>
  <li>I spy life peering; but I dare not say</li>
  <li>How near the tidings of our comfort is.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li class="number">Nay, let us share thy thoughts, as thou dost ours.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>Be confident to speak, Northumberland:</li>
  <li>We three are but thyself; and, speaking so,</li>
  <li>Thy words are but as thoughts; therefore, be bold.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Then thus: I have from Port le Blanc, a bay</li>
  <li class="number">In Brittany, received intelligence</li>
  <li>That Harry Duke of Hereford, Rainold Lord Cobham,</li>
  <li>That late broke from the Duke of Exeter,</li>
  <li>His brother, Archbishop late of Canterbury,</li>
  <li>Sir Thomas Erpingham, Sir John Ramston,</li>
  <li class="number">Sir John Norbery, Sir Robert Waterton and Francis Quoint,</li>
  <li>All these well furnish'd by the Duke of Bretagne</li>
  <li>With eight tall ships, three thousand men of war,</li>
  <li>Are making hither with all due expedience</li>
  <li>And shortly mean to touch our northern shore:</li>
  <li class="number">Perhaps they had ere this, but that they stay</li>
  <li>The first departing of the king for Ireland.</li>
  <li>If then we shall shake off our slavish yoke,</li>
  <li>Imp out our drooping country's broken wing,</li>
  <li>Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown,</li>
  <li class="number">Wipe off the dust that hides our sceptre's gilt</li>
  <li>And make high majesty look like itself,</li>
  <li>Away with me in post to Ravenspurgh;</li>
  <li>But if you faint, as fearing to do so,</li>
  <li>Stay and be secret, and myself will go.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li class="number">To horse, to horse! urge doubts to them that fear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li>Hold out my horse, and I will first be there.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter QUEEN, BUSHY, and BAGOT</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Madam, your majesty is too much sad:</li>
  <li>You promised, when you parted with the king,</li>
  <li>To lay aside life-harming heaviness</li>
  <li>And entertain a cheerful disposition.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li class="number">To please the king I did; to please myself</li>
  <li>I cannot do it; yet I know no cause</li>
  <li>Why I should welcome such a guest as grief,</li>
  <li>Save bidding farewell to so sweet a guest</li>
  <li>As my sweet Richard: yet again, methinks,</li>
  <li class="number">Some unborn sorrow, ripe in fortune's womb,</li>
  <li>Is coming towards me, and my inward soul</li>
  <li>With nothing trembles: at some thing it grieves,</li>
  <li>More than with parting from my lord the king.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows,</li>
  <li class="number">Which shows like grief itself, but is not so;</li>
  <li>For sorrow's eye, glazed with blinding tears,</li>
  <li>Divides one thing entire to many objects;</li>
  <li>Like perspectives, which rightly gazed upon</li>
  <li>Show nothing but confusion, eyed awry</li>
  <li class="number">Distinguish form: so your sweet majesty,</li>
  <li>Looking awry upon your lord's departure,</li>
  <li>Find shapes of grief, more than himself, to wail;</li>
  <li>Which, look'd on as it is, is nought but shadows</li>
  <li>Of what it is not. Then, thrice-gracious queen,</li>
  <li class="number">More than your lord's departure weep not: more's not seen;</li>
  <li>Or if it be, 'tis with false sorrow's eye,</li>
  <li>Which for things true weeps things imaginary.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>It may be so; but yet my inward soul</li>
  <li>Persuades me it is otherwise: howe'er it be,</li>
  <li class="number">I cannot but be sad; so heavy sad</li>
  <li>As, though on thinking on no thought I think,</li>
  <li>Makes me with heavy nothing faint and shrink.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>'Tis nothing but conceit, my gracious lady.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>'Tis nothing less: conceit is still derived</li>
  <li class="number">From some forefather grief; mine is not so,</li>
  <li>For nothing had begot my something grief;</li>
  <li>Or something hath the nothing that I grieve:</li>
  <li>'Tis in reversion that I do possess;</li>
  <li>But what it is, that is not yet known; what</li>
  <li class="number">I cannot name; 'tis nameless woe, I wot.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter GREEN</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>God save your majesty! and well met, gentlemen:</li>
  <li>I hope the king is not yet shipp'd for Ireland.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Why hopest thou so? 'tis better hope he is;</li>
  <li>For his designs crave haste, his haste good hope:</li>
  <li class="number">Then wherefore dost thou hope he is not shipp'd?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>That he, our hope, might have retired his power,</li>
  <li>And driven into despair an enemy's hope,</li>
  <li>Who strongly hath set footing in this land:</li>
  <li>The banish'd Bolingbroke repeals himself,</li>
  <li class="number">And with uplifted arms is safe arrived</li>
  <li>At Ravenspurgh.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Now God in heaven forbid!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>Ah, madam, 'tis too true: and that is worse,</li>
  <li>The Lord Northumberland, his son young Henry Percy,</li>
  <li class="number">The Lords of Ross, Beaumond, and Willoughby,</li>
  <li>With all their powerful friends, are fled to him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Why have you not proclaim'd Northumberland</li>
  <li>And all the rest revolted faction traitors?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>We have: whereupon the Earl of Worcester</li>
  <li class="number">Hath broke his staff, resign'd his stewardship,</li>
  <li>And all the household servants fled with him</li>
  <li>To Bolingbroke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>So, Green, thou art the midwife to my woe,</li>
  <li>And Bolingbroke my sorrow's dismal heir:</li>
  <li class="number">Now hath my soul brought forth her prodigy,</li>
  <li>And I, a gasping new-deliver'd mother,</li>
  <li>Have woe to woe, sorrow to sorrow join'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Despair not, madam.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Who shall hinder me?</li>
  <li class="number">I will despair, and be at enmity</li>
  <li>With cozening hope: he is a flatterer,</li>
  <li>A parasite, a keeper back of death,</li>
  <li>Who gently would dissolve the bands of life,</li>
  <li>Which false hope lingers in extremity.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUKE OF YORK</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li class="number">Here comes the Duke of York.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>With signs of war about his aged neck:</li>
  <li>O, full of careful business are his looks!</li>
  <li>Uncle, for God's sake, speak comfortable words.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Should I do so, I should belie my thoughts:</li>
  <li class="number">Comfort's in heaven; and we are on the earth,</li>
  <li>Where nothing lives but crosses, cares and grief.</li>
  <li>Your husband, he is gone to save far off,</li>
  <li>Whilst others come to make him lose at home:</li>
  <li>Here am I left to underprop his land,</li>
  <li class="number">Who, weak with age, cannot support myself:</li>
  <li>Now comes the sick hour that his surfeit made;</li>
  <li>Now shall he try his friends that flatter'd him.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter a Servant</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li>My lord, your son was gone before I came.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>He was? Why, so! go all which way it will!</li>
  <li class="number">The nobles they are fled, the commons they are cold,</li>
  <li>And will, I fear, revolt on Hereford's side.</li>
  <li>Sirrah, get thee to Plashy, to my sister Gloucester;</li>
  <li>Bid her send me presently a thousand pound:</li>
  <li>Hold, take my ring.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li class="number">My lord, I had forgot to tell your lordship,</li>
  <li>To-day, as I came by, I called there;</li>
  <li>But I shall grieve you to report the rest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>What is't, knave?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li>An hour before I came, the duchess died.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">God for his mercy! what a tide of woes</li>
  <li>Comes rushing on this woeful land at once!</li>
  <li>I know not what to do: I would to God,</li>
  <li>So my untruth had not provoked him to it,</li>
  <li>The king had cut off my head with my brother's.</li>
  <li class="number">What, are there no posts dispatch'd for Ireland?</li>
  <li>How shall we do for money for these wars?</li>
  <li>Come, sister —  cousin, I would say — pray, pardon me.</li>
  <li>Go, fellow, get thee home, provide some carts</li>
  <li>And bring away the armour that is there.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exit Servant</li>
  <li class="number">Gentlemen, will you go muster men?</li>
  <li>If I know how or which way to order these affairs</li>
  <li>Thus thrust disorderly into my hands,</li>
  <li>Never believe me. Both are my kinsmen:</li>
  <li>The one is my sovereign, whom both my oath</li>
  <li class="number">And duty bids defend; the other again</li>
  <li>Is my kinsman, whom the king hath wrong'd,</li>
  <li>Whom conscience and my kindred bids to right.</li>
  <li>Well, somewhat we must do. Come, cousin, I'll</li>
  <li>Dispose of you.</li>
  <li class="number">Gentlemen, go, muster up your men,</li>
  <li>And meet me presently at Berkeley.</li>
  <li>I should to Plashy too;</li>
  <li>But time will not permit: all is uneven,</li>
  <li>And every thing is left at six and seven.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt DUKE OF YORK and QUEEN</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li class="number">The wind sits fair for news to go to Ireland,</li>
  <li>But none returns. For us to levy power</li>
  <li>Proportionable to the enemy</li>
  <li>Is all unpossible.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>Besides, our nearness to the king in love</li>
  <li class="number">Is near the hate of those love not the king.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BAGOT</li>
  <li>And that's the wavering commons: for their love</li>
  <li>Lies in their purses, and whoso empties them</li>
  <li>By so much fills their hearts with deadly hate.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Wherein the king stands generally condemn'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BAGOT</li>
  <li class="number">If judgement lie in them, then so do we,</li>
  <li>Because we ever have been near the king.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>Well, I will for refuge straight to Bristol castle:</li>
  <li>The Earl of Wiltshire is already there.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Thither will I with you; for little office</li>
  <li class="number">The hateful commons will perform for us,</li>
  <li>Except like curs to tear us all to pieces.</li>
  <li>Will you go along with us?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BAGOT</li>
  <li>No; I will to Ireland to his majesty.</li>
  <li>Farewell: if heart's presages be not vain,</li>
  <li class="number">We three here art that ne'er shall meet again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>That's as York thrives to beat back Bolingbroke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>Alas, poor duke! the task he undertakes</li>
  <li>Is numbering sands and drinking oceans dry:</li>
  <li>Where one on his side fights, thousands will fly.</li>
  <li class="number">Farewell at once, for once, for all, and ever.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>Well, we may meet again.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BAGOT</li>
  <li>I fear me, never.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  Wilds in Gloucestershire.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE and NORTHUMBERLAND, with Forces</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>How far is it, my lord, to Berkeley now?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Believe me, noble lord,</li>
  <li>I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire:</li>
  <li>These high wild hills and rough uneven ways</li>
  <li class="number">Draws out our miles, and makes them wearisome,</li>
  <li>And yet your fair discourse hath been as sugar,</li>
  <li>Making the hard way sweet and delectable.</li>
  <li>But I bethink me what a weary way</li>
  <li>From Ravenspurgh to Cotswold will be found</li>
  <li class="number">In Ross and Willoughby, wanting your company,</li>
  <li>Which, I protest, hath very much beguiled</li>
  <li>The tediousness and process of my travel:</li>
  <li>But theirs is sweetened with the hope to have</li>
  <li>The present benefit which I possess;</li>
  <li class="number">And hope to joy is little less in joy</li>
  <li>Than hope enjoy'd: by this the weary lords</li>
  <li>Shall make their way seem short, as mine hath done</li>
  <li>By sight of what I have, your noble company.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Of much less value is my company</li>
  <li class="number">Than your good words. But who comes here?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HENRY PERCY</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>It is my son, young Harry Percy,</li>
  <li>Sent from my brother Worcester, whencesoever.</li>
  <li>Harry, how fares your uncle?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>I had thought, my lord, to have learn'd his health of you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li class="number">Why, is he not with the queen?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>No, my good Lord; he hath forsook the court,</li>
  <li>Broken his staff of office and dispersed</li>
  <li>The household of the king.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>What was his reason?</li>
  <li class="number">He was not so resolved when last we spake together.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>Because your lordship was proclaimed traitor.</li>
  <li>But he, my lord, is gone to Ravenspurgh,</li>
  <li>To offer service to the Duke of Hereford,</li>
  <li>And sent me over by Berkeley, to discover</li>
  <li class="number">What power the Duke of York had levied there;</li>
  <li>Then with directions to repair to Ravenspurgh.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Have you forgot the Duke of Hereford, boy?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>No, my good lord, for that is not forgot</li>
  <li>Which ne'er I did remember: to my knowledge,</li>
  <li class="number">I never in my life did look on him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Then learn to know him now; this is the duke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>My gracious lord, I tender you my service,</li>
  <li>Such as it is, being tender, raw and young:</li>
  <li>Which elder days shall ripen and confirm</li>
  <li class="number">To more approved service and desert.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>I thank thee, gentle Percy; and be sure</li>
  <li>I count myself in nothing else so happy</li>
  <li>As in a soul remembering my good friends;</li>
  <li>And, as my fortune ripens with thy love,</li>
  <li class="number">It shall be still thy true love's recompense:</li>
  <li>My heart this covenant makes, my hand thus seals it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>How far is it to Berkeley? and what stir</li>
  <li>Keeps good old York there with his men of war?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>There stands the castle, by yon tuft of trees,</li>
  <li class="number">Mann'd with three hundred men, as I have heard;</li>
  <li>And in it are the Lords of York, Berkeley, and Seymour;</li>
  <li>None else of name and noble estimate.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter LORD ROSS and LORD WILLOUGHBY</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Here come the Lords of Ross and Willoughby,</li>
  <li>Bloody with spurring, fiery-red with haste.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Welcome, my lords. I wot your love pursues</li>
  <li>A banish'd traitor: all my treasury</li>
  <li>Is yet but unfelt thanks, which more enrich'd</li>
  <li>Shall be your love and labour's recompense.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>Your presence makes us rich, most noble lord.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li class="number">And far surmounts our labour to attain it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Evermore thanks, the exchequer of the poor;</li>
  <li>Which, till my infant fortune comes to years,</li>
  <li>Stands for my bounty. But who comes here?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter LORD BERKELEY</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>It is my Lord of Berkeley, as I guess.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD BERKELEY</li>
  <li class="number">My Lord of Hereford, my message is to you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>My lord, my answer is — to Lancaster;</li>
  <li>And I am come to seek that name in England;</li>
  <li>And I must find that title in your tongue,</li>
  <li>Before I make reply to aught you say.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD BERKELEY</li>
  <li class="number">Mistake me not, my lord; 'tis not my meaning</li>
  <li>To raze one title of your honour out:</li>
  <li>To you, my lord, I come, what lord you will,</li>
  <li>From the most gracious regent of this land,</li>
  <li>The Duke of York, to know what pricks you on</li>
  <li class="number">To take advantage of the absent time</li>
  <li>And fright our native peace with self-born arms.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUKE OF YORK attended</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>I shall not need transport my words by you;</li>
  <li>Here comes his grace in person. My noble uncle!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Kneels</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Show me thy humble heart, and not thy knee,</li>
  <li class="number">Whose duty is deceiveable and false.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>My gracious uncle — </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Tut, tut!</li>
  <li>Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle:</li>
  <li>I am no traitor's uncle; and that word 'grace.'</li>
  <li class="number">In an ungracious mouth is but profane.</li>
  <li>Why have those banish'd and forbidden legs</li>
  <li>Dared once to touch a dust of England's ground?</li>
  <li>But then more 'why?' why have they dared to march</li>
  <li>So many miles upon her peaceful bosom,</li>
  <li class="number">Frighting her pale-faced villages with war</li>
  <li>And ostentation of despised arms?</li>
  <li>Comest thou because the anointed king is hence?</li>
  <li>Why, foolish boy, the king is left behind,</li>
  <li>And in my loyal bosom lies his power.</li>
  <li class="number">Were I but now the lord of such hot youth</li>
  <li>As when brave Gaunt, thy father, and myself</li>
  <li>Rescued the Black Prince, that young Mars of men,</li>
  <li>From forth the ranks of many thousand French,</li>
  <li>O, then how quickly should this arm of mine.</li>
  <li class="number">Now prisoner to the palsy, chastise thee</li>
  <li>And minister correction to thy fault!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>My gracious uncle, let me know my fault:</li>
  <li>On what condition stands it and wherein?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Even in condition of the worst degree,</li>
  <li class="number">In gross rebellion and detested treason:</li>
  <li>Thou art a banish'd man, and here art come</li>
  <li>Before the expiration of thy time,</li>
  <li>In braving arms against thy sovereign.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>As I was banish'd, I was banish'd Hereford;</li>
  <li class="number">But as I come, I come for Lancaster.</li>
  <li>And, noble uncle, I beseech your grace</li>
  <li>Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye:</li>
  <li>You are my father, for methinks in you</li>
  <li>I see old Gaunt alive; O, then, my father,</li>
  <li class="number">Will you permit that I shall stand condemn'd</li>
  <li>A wandering vagabond; my rights and royalties</li>
  <li>Pluck'd from my arms perforce and given away</li>
  <li>To upstart unthrifts? Wherefore was I born?</li>
  <li>If that my cousin king be King of England,</li>
  <li class="number">It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster.</li>
  <li>You have a son, Aumerle, my noble cousin;</li>
  <li>Had you first died, and he been thus trod down,</li>
  <li>He should have found his uncle Gaunt a father,</li>
  <li>To rouse his wrongs and chase them to the bay.</li>
  <li class="number">I am denied to sue my livery here,</li>
  <li>And yet my letters-patents give me leave:</li>
  <li>My father's goods are all distrain'd and sold,</li>
  <li>And these and all are all amiss employ'd.</li>
  <li>What would you have me do? I am a subject,</li>
  <li class="number">And I challenge law: attorneys are denied me;</li>
  <li>And therefore, personally I lay my claim</li>
  <li>To my inheritance of free descent.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>The noble duke hath been too much abused.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD ROSS</li>
  <li>It stands your grace upon to do him right.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD WILLOUGHBY</li>
  <li class="number">Base men by his endowments are made great.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>My lords of England, let me tell you this:</li>
  <li>I have had feeling of my cousin's wrongs</li>
  <li>And laboured all I could to do him right;</li>
  <li>But in this kind to come, in braving arms,</li>
  <li class="number">Be his own carver and cut out his way,</li>
  <li>To find out right with wrong, it may not be;</li>
  <li>And you that do abet him in this kind</li>
  <li>Cherish rebellion and are rebels all.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>The noble duke hath sworn his coming is</li>
  <li class="number">But for his own; and for the right of that</li>
  <li>We all have strongly sworn to give him aid;</li>
  <li>And let him ne'er see joy that breaks that oath!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Well, well, I see the issue of these arms:</li>
  <li>I cannot mend it, I must needs confess,</li>
  <li class="number">Because my power is weak and all ill left:</li>
  <li>But if I could, by Him that gave me life,</li>
  <li>I would attach you all and make you stoop</li>
  <li>Unto the sovereign mercy of the king;</li>
  <li>But since I cannot, be it known to you</li>
  <li class="number">I do remain as neuter. So, fare you well;</li>
  <li>Unless you please to enter in the castle</li>
  <li>And there repose you for this night.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>An offer, uncle, that we will accept:</li>
  <li>But we must win your grace to go with us</li>
  <li class="number">To Bristol castle, which they say is held</li>
  <li>By Bushy, Bagot and their complices,</li>
  <li>The caterpillars of the commonwealth,</li>
  <li>Which I have sworn to weed and pluck away.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>It may be I will go with you: but yet I'll pause;</li>
  <li class="number">For I am loath to break our country's laws.</li>
  <li>Nor friends nor foes, to me welcome you are:</li>
  <li>Things past redress are now with me past care.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE IV.  A camp in Wales.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter EARL OF SALISBURY and a Welsh Captain</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Captain</li>
  <li>My lord of Salisbury, we have stay'd ten days,</li>
  <li>And hardly kept our countrymen together,</li>
  <li>And yet we hear no tidings from the king;</li>
  <li>Therefore we will disperse ourselves: farewell.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EARL OF SALISBURY</li>
  <li class="number">Stay yet another day, thou trusty Welshman:</li>
  <li>The king reposeth all his confidence in thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Captain</li>
  <li>'Tis thought the king is dead; we will not stay.</li>
  <li>The bay-trees in our country are all wither'd</li>
  <li>And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven;</li>
  <li class="number">The pale-faced moon looks bloody on the earth</li>
  <li>And lean-look'd prophets whisper fearful change;</li>
  <li>Rich men look sad and ruffians dance and leap,</li>
  <li>The one in fear to lose what they enjoy,</li>
  <li>The other to enjoy by rage and war:</li>
  <li class="number">These signs forerun the death or fall of kings.</li>
  <li>Farewell: our countrymen are gone and fled,</li>
  <li>As well assured Richard their king is dead.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EARL OF SALISBURY</li>
  <li>Ah, Richard, with the eyes of heavy mind</li>
  <li>I see thy glory like a shooting star</li>
  <li class="number">Fall to the base earth from the firmament.</li>
  <li>Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west,</li>
  <li>Witnessing storms to come, woe and unrest:</li>
  <li>Thy friends are fled to wait upon thy foes,</li>
  <li>And crossly to thy good all fortune goes.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT III</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Bristol. Before the castle.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE, DUKE OF YORK,
NORTHUMBERLAND, LORD ROSS, HENRY PERCY, LORD
WILLOUGHBY, with BUSHY and GREEN, prisoners</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Bring forth these men.</li>
  <li>Bushy and Green, I will not vex your souls — </li>
  <li>Since presently your souls must part your bodies — </li>
  <li>With too much urging your pernicious lives,</li>
  <li class="number">For 'twere no charity; yet, to wash your blood</li>
  <li>From off my hands, here in the view of men</li>
  <li>I will unfold some causes of your deaths.</li>
  <li>You have misled a prince, a royal king,</li>
  <li>A happy gentleman in blood and lineaments,</li>
  <li class="number">By you unhappied and disfigured clean:</li>
  <li>You have in manner with your sinful hours</li>
  <li>Made a divorce betwixt his queen and him,</li>
  <li>Broke the possession of a royal bed</li>
  <li>And stain'd the beauty of a fair queen's cheeks</li>
  <li class="number">With tears drawn from her eyes by your foul wrongs.</li>
  <li>Myself, a prince by fortune of my birth,</li>
  <li>Near to the king in blood, and near in love</li>
  <li>Till you did make him misinterpret me,</li>
  <li>Have stoop'd my neck under your injuries,</li>
  <li class="number">And sigh'd my English breath in foreign clouds,</li>
  <li>Eating the bitter bread of banishment;</li>
  <li>Whilst you have fed upon my signories,</li>
  <li>Dispark'd my parks and fell'd my forest woods,</li>
  <li>From my own windows torn my household coat,</li>
  <li class="number">Razed out my imprese, leaving me no sign,</li>
  <li>Save men's opinions and my living blood,</li>
  <li>To show the world I am a gentleman.</li>
  <li>This and much more, much more than twice all this,</li>
  <li>Condemns you to the death. See them deliver'd over</li>
  <li class="number">To execution and the hand of death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BUSHY</li>
  <li>More welcome is the stroke of death to me</li>
  <li>Than Bolingbroke to England. Lords, farewell.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GREEN</li>
  <li>My comfort is that heaven will take our souls</li>
  <li>And plague injustice with the pains of hell.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatch'd.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exeunt NORTHUMBERLAND and others, with the
prisoners</li>
  <li>Uncle, you say the queen is at your house;</li>
  <li>For God's sake, fairly let her be entreated:</li>
  <li>Tell her I send to her my kind commends;</li>
  <li>Take special care my greetings be deliver'd.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">A gentleman of mine I have dispatch'd</li>
  <li>With letters of your love to her at large.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Thank, gentle uncle. Come, lords, away.</li>
  <li>To fight with Glendower and his complices:</li>
  <li>Awhile to work, and after holiday.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The coast of Wales. A castle in view.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Drums; flourish and colours. Enter KING RICHARD
II, the BISHOP OF CARLISLE, DUKE OF AUMERLE, and Soldiers</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Barkloughly castle call they this at hand?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Yea, my lord. How brooks your grace the air,</li>
  <li>After your late tossing on the breaking seas?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Needs must I like it well: I weep for joy</li>
  <li class="number">To stand upon my kingdom once again.</li>
  <li>Dear earth, I do salute thee with my hand,</li>
  <li>Though rebels wound thee with their horses' hoofs:</li>
  <li>As a long-parted mother with her child</li>
  <li>Plays fondly with her tears and smiles in meeting,</li>
  <li class="number">So, weeping, smiling, greet I thee, my earth,</li>
  <li>And do thee favours with my royal hands.</li>
  <li>Feed not thy sovereign's foe, my gentle earth,</li>
  <li>Nor with thy sweets comfort his ravenous sense;</li>
  <li>But let thy spiders, that suck up thy venom,</li>
  <li class="number">And heavy-gaited toads lie in their way,</li>
  <li>Doing annoyance to the treacherous feet</li>
  <li>Which with usurping steps do trample thee:</li>
  <li>Yield stinging nettles to mine enemies;</li>
  <li>And when they from thy bosom pluck a flower,</li>
  <li class="number">Guard it, I pray thee, with a lurking adder</li>
  <li>Whose double tongue may with a mortal touch</li>
  <li>Throw death upon thy sovereign's enemies.</li>
  <li>Mock not my senseless conjuration, lords:</li>
  <li>This earth shall have a feeling and these stones</li>
  <li class="number">Prove armed soldiers, ere her native king</li>
  <li>Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BISHOP OF CARLISLE</li>
  <li>Fear not, my lord: that Power that made you king</li>
  <li>Hath power to keep you king in spite of all.</li>
  <li>The means that heaven yields must be embraced,</li>
  <li class="number">And not neglected; else, if heaven would,</li>
  <li>And we will not, heaven's offer we refuse,</li>
  <li>The proffer'd means of succor and redress.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>He means, my lord, that we are too remiss;</li>
  <li>Whilst Bolingbroke, through our security,</li>
  <li class="number">Grows strong and great in substance and in power.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Discomfortable cousin! know'st thou not</li>
  <li>That when the searching eye of heaven is hid,</li>
  <li>Behind the globe, that lights the lower world,</li>
  <li>Then thieves and robbers range abroad unseen</li>
  <li class="number">In murders and in outrage, boldly here;</li>
  <li>But when from under this terrestrial ball</li>
  <li>He fires the proud tops of the eastern pines</li>
  <li>And darts his light through every guilty hole,</li>
  <li>Then murders, treasons and detested sins,</li>
  <li class="number">The cloak of night being pluck'd from off their backs,</li>
  <li>Stand bare and naked, trembling at themselves?</li>
  <li>So when this thief, this traitor, Bolingbroke,</li>
  <li>Who all this while hath revell'd in the night</li>
  <li>Whilst we were wandering with the antipodes,</li>
  <li class="number">Shall see us rising in our throne, the east,</li>
  <li>His treasons will sit blushing in his face,</li>
  <li>Not able to endure the sight of day,</li>
  <li>But self-affrighted tremble at his sin.</li>
  <li>Not all the water in the rough rude sea</li>
  <li class="number">Can wash the balm off from an anointed king;</li>
  <li>The breath of worldly men cannot depose</li>
  <li>The deputy elected by the Lord:</li>
  <li>For every man that Bolingbroke hath press'd</li>
  <li>To lift shrewd steel against our golden crown,</li>
  <li class="number">God for his Richard hath in heavenly pay</li>
  <li>A glorious angel: then, if angels fight,</li>
  <li>Weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter EARL OF SALISBURY</li>
  <li>Welcome, my lord how far off lies your power?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EARL OF SALISBURY</li>
  <li>Nor near nor farther off, my gracious lord,</li>
  <li class="number">Than this weak arm: discomfort guides my tongue</li>
  <li>And bids me speak of nothing but despair.</li>
  <li>One day too late, I fear me, noble lord,</li>
  <li>Hath clouded all thy happy days on earth:</li>
  <li>O, call back yesterday, bid time return,</li>
  <li class="number">And thou shalt have twelve thousand fighting men!</li>
  <li>To-day, to-day, unhappy day, too late,</li>
  <li>O'erthrows thy joys, friends, fortune and thy state:</li>
  <li>For all the Welshmen, hearing thou wert dead.</li>
  <li>Are gone to Bolingbroke, dispersed and fled.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">Comfort, my liege; why looks your grace so pale?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>But now the blood of twenty thousand men</li>
  <li>Did triumph in my face, and they are fled;</li>
  <li>And, till so much blood thither come again,</li>
  <li>Have I not reason to look pale and dead?</li>
  <li class="number">All souls that will be safe fly from my side,</li>
  <li>For time hath set a blot upon my pride.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Comfort, my liege; remember who you are.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>I had forgot myself; am I not king?</li>
  <li>Awake, thou coward majesty! thou sleepest.</li>
  <li class="number">Is not the king's name twenty thousand names?</li>
  <li>Arm, arm, my name! a puny subject strikes</li>
  <li>At thy great glory. Look not to the ground,</li>
  <li>Ye favourites of a king: are we not high?</li>
  <li>High be our thoughts: I know my uncle York</li>
  <li class="number">Hath power enough to serve our turn. But who comes here?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</li>
  <li>More health and happiness betide my liege</li>
  <li>Than can my care-tuned tongue deliver him!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Mine ear is open and my heart prepared;</li>
  <li>The worst is worldly loss thou canst unfold.</li>
  <li class="number">Say, is my kingdom lost? why, 'twas my care</li>
  <li>And what loss is it to be rid of care?</li>
  <li>Strives Bolingbroke to be as great as we?</li>
  <li>Greater he shall not be; if he serve God,</li>
  <li>We'll serve Him too and be his fellow so:</li>
  <li class="number">Revolt our subjects? that we cannot mend;</li>
  <li>They break their faith to God as well as us:</li>
  <li>Cry woe, destruction, ruin and decay:</li>
  <li>The worst is death, and death will have his day.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</li>
  <li>Glad am I that your highness is so arm'd</li>
  <li class="number">To bear the tidings of calamity.</li>
  <li>Like an unseasonable stormy day,</li>
  <li>Which makes the silver rivers drown their shores,</li>
  <li>As if the world were all dissolved to tears,</li>
  <li>So high above his limits swells the rage</li>
  <li class="number">Of Bolingbroke, covering your fearful land</li>
  <li>With hard bright steel and hearts harder than steel.</li>
  <li>White-beards have arm'd their thin and hairless scalps</li>
  <li>Against thy majesty; boys, with women's voices,</li>
  <li>Strive to speak big and clap their female joints</li>
  <li class="number">In stiff unwieldy arms against thy crown:</li>
  <li>The very beadsmen learn to bend their bows</li>
  <li>Of double-fatal yew against thy state;</li>
  <li>Yea, distaff-women manage rusty bills</li>
  <li>Against thy seat: both young and old rebel,</li>
  <li class="number">And all goes worse than I have power to tell.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Too well, too well thou tell'st a tale so ill.</li>
  <li>Where is the Earl of Wiltshire? where is Bagot?</li>
  <li>What is become of Bushy? where is Green?</li>
  <li>That they have let the dangerous enemy</li>
  <li class="number">Measure our confines with such peaceful steps?</li>
  <li>If we prevail, their heads shall pay for it:</li>
  <li>I warrant they have made peace with Bolingbroke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</li>
  <li>Peace have they made with him indeed, my lord.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>O villains, vipers, damn'd without redemption!</li>
  <li class="number">Dogs, easily won to fawn on any man!</li>
  <li>Snakes, in my heart-blood warm'd, that sting my heart!</li>
  <li>Three Judases, each one thrice worse than Judas!</li>
  <li>Would they make peace? terrible hell make war</li>
  <li>Upon their spotted souls for this offence!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</li>
  <li class="number">Sweet love, I see, changing his property,</li>
  <li>Turns to the sourest and most deadly hate:</li>
  <li>Again uncurse their souls; their peace is made</li>
  <li>With heads, and not with hands; those whom you curse</li>
  <li>Have felt the worst of death's destroying wound</li>
  <li class="number">And lie full low, graved in the hollow ground.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Is Bushy, Green, and the Earl of Wiltshire dead?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</li>
  <li>Ay, all of them at Bristol lost their heads.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Where is the duke my father with his power?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>No matter where; of comfort no man speak:</li>
  <li class="number">Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;</li>
  <li>Make dust our paper and with rainy eyes</li>
  <li>Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth,</li>
  <li>Let's choose executors and talk of wills:</li>
  <li>And yet not so, for what can we bequeath</li>
  <li class="number">Save our deposed bodies to the ground?</li>
  <li>Our lands, our lives and all are Bolingbroke's,</li>
  <li>And nothing can we call our own but death</li>
  <li>And that small model of the barren earth</li>
  <li>Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.</li>
  <li class="number">For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground</li>
  <li>And tell sad stories of the death of kings;</li>
  <li>How some have been deposed; some slain in war,</li>
  <li>Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed;</li>
  <li>Some poison'd by their wives: some sleeping kill'd;</li>
  <li class="number">All murder'd: for within the hollow crown</li>
  <li>That rounds the mortal temples of a king</li>
  <li>Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits,</li>
  <li>Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp,</li>
  <li>Allowing him a breath, a little scene,</li>
  <li class="number">To monarchize, be fear'd and kill with looks,</li>
  <li>Infusing him with self and vain conceit,</li>
  <li>As if this flesh which walls about our life,</li>
  <li>Were brass impregnable, and humour'd thus</li>
  <li>Comes at the last and with a little pin</li>
  <li class="number">Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king!</li>
  <li>Cover your heads and mock not flesh and blood</li>
  <li>With solemn reverence: throw away respect,</li>
  <li>Tradition, form and ceremonious duty,</li>
  <li>For you have but mistook me all this while:</li>
  <li class="number">I live with bread like you, feel want,</li>
  <li>Taste grief, need friends: subjected thus,</li>
  <li>How can you say to me, I am a king?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BISHOP OF CARLISLE</li>
  <li>My lord, wise men ne'er sit and wail their woes,</li>
  <li>But presently prevent the ways to wail.</li>
  <li class="number">To fear the foe, since fear oppresseth strength,</li>
  <li>Gives in your weakness strength unto your foe,</li>
  <li>And so your follies fight against yourself.</li>
  <li>Fear and be slain; no worse can come to fight:</li>
  <li>And fight and die is death destroying death;</li>
  <li class="number">Where fearing dying pays death servile breath.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>My father hath a power; inquire of him</li>
  <li>And learn to make a body of a limb.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Thou chidest me well: proud Bolingbroke, I come</li>
  <li>To change blows with thee for our day of doom.</li>
  <li class="number">This ague fit of fear is over-blown;</li>
  <li>An easy task it is to win our own.</li>
  <li>Say, Scroop, where lies our uncle with his power?</li>
  <li>Speak sweetly, man, although thy looks be sour.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">SIR STEPHEN SCROOP</li>
  <li>Men judge by the complexion of the sky</li>
  <li class="number">The state and inclination of the day:</li>
  <li>So may you by my dull and heavy eye,</li>
  <li>My tongue hath but a heavier tale to say.</li>
  <li>I play the torturer, by small and small</li>
  <li>To lengthen out the worst that must be spoken:</li>
  <li class="number">Your uncle York is join'd with Bolingbroke,</li>
  <li>And all your northern castles yielded up,</li>
  <li>And all your southern gentlemen in arms</li>
  <li>Upon his party.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Thou hast said enough.</li>
  <li class="number">Beshrew thee, cousin, which didst lead me forth</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Of that sweet way I was in to despair!</li>
  <li>What say you now? what comfort have we now?</li>
  <li>By heaven, I'll hate him everlastingly</li>
  <li>That bids me be of comfort any more.</li>
  <li class="number">Go to Flint castle: there I'll pine away;</li>
  <li>A king, woe's slave, shall kingly woe obey.</li>
  <li>That power I have, discharge; and let them go</li>
  <li>To ear the land that hath some hope to grow,</li>
  <li>For I have none: let no man speak again</li>
  <li class="number">To alter this, for counsel is but vain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>My liege, one word.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>He does me double wrong</li>
  <li>That wounds me with the flatteries of his tongue.</li>
  <li>Discharge my followers: let them hence away,</li>
  <li class="number">From Richard's night to Bolingbroke's fair day.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  Wales. Before Flint castle.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter, with drum and colours, HENRY BOLINGBROKE,
DUKE OF YORK, NORTHUMBERLAND, Attendants, and forces</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>So that by this intelligence we learn</li>
  <li>The Welshmen are dispersed, and Salisbury</li>
  <li>Is gone to meet the king, who lately landed</li>
  <li>With some few private friends upon this coast.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li class="number">The news is very fair and good, my lord:</li>
  <li>Richard not far from hence hath hid his head.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>It would beseem the Lord Northumberland</li>
  <li>To say 'King Richard:' alack the heavy day</li>
  <li>When such a sacred king should hide his head.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li class="number">Your grace mistakes; only to be brief</li>
  <li>Left I his title out.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>The time hath been,</li>
  <li>Would you have been so brief with him, he would</li>
  <li>Have been so brief with you, to shorten you,</li>
  <li class="number">For taking so the head, your whole head's length.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Mistake not, uncle, further than you should.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Take not, good cousin, further than you should.</li>
  <li>Lest you mistake the heavens are o'er our heads.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>I know it, uncle, and oppose not myself</li>
  <li class="number">Against their will. But who comes here?</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>Welcome, Harry: what, will not this castle yield?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>The castle royally is mann'd, my lord,</li>
  <li>Against thy entrance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Royally!</li>
  <li class="number">Why, it contains no king?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>Yes, my good lord,</li>
  <li>It doth contain a king; King Richard lies</li>
  <li>Within the limits of yon lime and stone:</li>
  <li>And with him are the Lord Aumerle, Lord Salisbury,</li>
  <li class="number">Sir Stephen Scroop, besides a clergyman</li>
  <li>Of holy reverence; who, I cannot learn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>O, belike it is the Bishop of Carlisle.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Noble lords,</li>
  <li>Go to the rude ribs of that ancient castle;</li>
  <li class="number">Through brazen trumpet send the breath of parley</li>
  <li>Into his ruin'd ears, and thus deliver:</li>
  <li>Henry Bolingbroke</li>
  <li>On both his knees doth kiss King Richard's hand</li>
  <li>And sends allegiance and true faith of heart</li>
  <li class="number">To his most royal person, hither come</li>
  <li>Even at his feet to lay my arms and power,</li>
  <li>Provided that my banishment repeal'd</li>
  <li>And lands restored again be freely granted:</li>
  <li>If not, I'll use the advantage of my power</li>
  <li class="number">And lay the summer's dust with showers of blood</li>
  <li>Rain'd from the wounds of slaughter'd Englishmen:</li>
  <li>The which, how far off from the mind of Bolingbroke</li>
  <li>It is, such crimson tempest should bedrench</li>
  <li>The fresh green lap of fair King Richard's land,</li>
  <li class="number">My stooping duty tenderly shall show.</li>
  <li>Go, signify as much, while here we march</li>
  <li>Upon the grassy carpet of this plain.</li>
  <li>Let's march without the noise of threatening drum,</li>
  <li>That from this castle's tatter'd battlements</li>
  <li class="number">Our fair appointments may be well perused.</li>
  <li>Methinks King Richard and myself should meet</li>
  <li>With no less terror than the elements</li>
  <li>Of fire and water, when their thundering shock</li>
  <li>At meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven.</li>
  <li class="number">Be he the fire, I'll be the yielding water:</li>
  <li>The rage be his, whilst on the earth I rain</li>
  <li>My waters; on the earth, and not on him.</li>
  <li>March on, and mark King Richard how he looks.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Parle without, and answer within. Then a flourish.
Enter on the walls, KING RICHARD II, the BISHOP OF
CARLISLE, DUKE OF AUMERLE, SIR STEPHEN SCROOP, and
EARL OF SALISBURY</li>
  <li>See, see, King Richard doth himself appear,</li>
  <li class="number">As doth the blushing discontented sun</li>
  <li>From out the fiery portal of the east,</li>
  <li>When he perceives the envious clouds are bent</li>
  <li>To dim his glory and to stain the track</li>
  <li>Of his bright passage to the occident.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">Yet looks he like a king: behold, his eye,</li>
  <li>As bright as is the eagle's, lightens forth</li>
  <li>Controlling majesty: alack, alack, for woe,</li>
  <li>That any harm should stain so fair a show!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>We are amazed; and thus long have we stood</li>
  <li class="number">To watch the fearful bending of thy knee,</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Because we thought ourself thy lawful king:</li>
  <li>And if we be, how dare thy joints forget</li>
  <li>To pay their awful duty to our presence?</li>
  <li>If we be not, show us the hand of God</li>
  <li class="number">That hath dismissed us from our stewardship;</li>
  <li>For well we know, no hand of blood and bone</li>
  <li>Can gripe the sacred handle of our sceptre,</li>
  <li>Unless he do profane, steal, or usurp.</li>
  <li>And though you think that all, as you have done,</li>
  <li class="number">Have torn their souls by turning them from us,</li>
  <li>And we are barren and bereft of friends;</li>
  <li>Yet know, my master, God omnipotent,</li>
  <li>Is mustering in his clouds on our behalf</li>
  <li>Armies of pestilence; and they shall strike</li>
  <li class="number">Your children yet unborn and unbegot,</li>
  <li>That lift your vassal hands against my head</li>
  <li>And threat the glory of my precious crown.</li>
  <li>Tell Bolingbroke — for yond methinks he stands — </li>
  <li>That every stride he makes upon my land</li>
  <li class="number">Is dangerous treason: he is come to open</li>
  <li>The purple testament of bleeding war;</li>
  <li>But ere the crown he looks for live in peace,</li>
  <li>Ten thousand bloody crowns of mothers' sons</li>
  <li>Shall ill become the flower of England's face,</li>
  <li class="number">Change the complexion of her maid-pale peace</li>
  <li>To scarlet indignation and bedew</li>
  <li>Her pastures' grass with faithful English blood.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>The king of heaven forbid our lord the king</li>
  <li>Should so with civil and uncivil arms</li>
  <li class="number">Be rush'd upon! Thy thrice noble cousin</li>
  <li>Harry Bolingbroke doth humbly kiss thy hand;</li>
  <li>And by the honourable tomb he swears,</li>
  <li>That stands upon your royal grandsire's bones,</li>
  <li>And by the royalties of both your bloods,</li>
  <li class="number">Currents that spring from one most gracious head,</li>
  <li>And by the buried hand of warlike Gaunt,</li>
  <li>And by the worth and honour of himself,</li>
  <li>Comprising all that may be sworn or said,</li>
  <li>His coming hither hath no further scope</li>
  <li class="number">Than for his lineal royalties and to beg</li>
  <li>Enfranchisement immediate on his knees:</li>
  <li>Which on thy royal party granted once,</li>
  <li>His glittering arms he will commend to rust,</li>
  <li>His barbed steeds to stables, and his heart</li>
  <li class="number">To faithful service of your majesty.</li>
  <li>This swears he, as he is a prince, is just;</li>
  <li>And, as I am a gentleman, I credit him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Northumberland, say thus the king returns:</li>
  <li>His noble cousin is right welcome hither;</li>
  <li class="number">And all the number of his fair demands</li>
  <li>Shall be accomplish'd without contradiction:</li>
  <li>With all the gracious utterance thou hast</li>
  <li>Speak to his gentle hearing kind commends.</li>
  <li>We do debase ourselves, cousin, do we not,</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">To DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">To look so poorly and to speak so fair?</li>
  <li>Shall we call back Northumberland, and send</li>
  <li>Defiance to the traitor, and so die?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>No, good my lord; let's fight with gentle words</li>
  <li>Till time lend friends and friends their helpful swords.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">O God, O God! that e'er this tongue of mine,</li>
  <li>That laid the sentence of dread banishment</li>
  <li>On yon proud man, should take it off again</li>
  <li>With words of sooth! O that I were as great</li>
  <li>As is my grief, or lesser than my name!</li>
  <li class="number">Or that I could forget what I have been,</li>
  <li>Or not remember what I must be now!</li>
  <li>Swell'st thou, proud heart? I'll give thee scope to beat,</li>
  <li>Since foes have scope to beat both thee and me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Northumberland comes back from Bolingbroke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">What must the king do now? must he submit?</li>
  <li>The king shall do it: must he be deposed?</li>
  <li>The king shall be contented: must he lose</li>
  <li>The name of king? o' God's name, let it go:</li>
  <li>I'll give my jewels for a set of beads,</li>
  <li class="number">My gorgeous palace for a hermitage,</li>
  <li>My gay apparel for an almsman's gown,</li>
  <li>My figured goblets for a dish of wood,</li>
  <li>My sceptre for a palmer's walking staff,</li>
  <li>My subjects for a pair of carved saints</li>
  <li class="number">And my large kingdom for a little grave,</li>
  <li>A little little grave, an obscure grave;</li>
  <li>Or I'll be buried in the king's highway,</li>
  <li>Some way of common trade, where subjects' feet</li>
  <li>May hourly trample on their sovereign's head;</li>
  <li class="number">For on my heart they tread now whilst I live;</li>
  <li>And buried once, why not upon my head?</li>
  <li>Aumerle, thou weep'st, my tender-hearted cousin!</li>
  <li>We'll make foul weather with despised tears;</li>
  <li>Our sighs and they shall lodge the summer corn,</li>
  <li class="number">And make a dearth in this revolting land.</li>
  <li>Or shall we play the wantons with our woes,</li>
  <li>And make some pretty match with shedding tears?</li>
  <li>As thus, to drop them still upon one place,</li>
  <li>Till they have fretted us a pair of graves</li>
  <li class="number">Within the earth; and, therein laid —  there lies</li>
  <li>Two kinsmen digg'd their graves with weeping eyes.</li>
  <li>Would not this ill do well? Well, well, I see</li>
  <li>I talk but idly, and you laugh at me.</li>
  <li>Most mighty prince, my Lord Northumberland,</li>
  <li class="number">What says King Bolingbroke? will his majesty</li>
  <li>Give Richard leave to live till Richard die?</li>
  <li>You make a leg, and Bolingbroke says ay.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>My lord, in the base court he doth attend</li>
  <li>To speak with you; may it please you to come down.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Down, down I come; like glistering Phaethon,</li>
  <li>Wanting the manage of unruly jades.</li>
  <li>In the base court? Base court, where kings grow base,</li>
  <li>To come at traitors' calls and do them grace.</li>
  <li>In the base court? Come down? Down, court!</li>
  <li class="number">down, king!</li>
  <li>For night-owls shriek where mounting larks</li>
  <li>should sing.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt from above</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>What says his majesty?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Sorrow and grief of heart</li>
  <li class="number">Makes him speak fondly, like a frantic man</li>
  <li>Yet he is come.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter KING RICHARD and his attendants below</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Stand all apart,</li>
  <li>And show fair duty to his majesty.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">He kneels down</li>
  <li>My gracious lord —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Fair cousin, you debase your princely knee</li>
  <li>To make the base earth proud with kissing it:</li>
  <li>Me rather had my heart might feel your love</li>
  <li>Than my unpleased eye see your courtesy.</li>
  <li>Up, cousin, up; your heart is up, I know,</li>
  <li class="number">Thus high at least, although your knee be low.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>My gracious lord, I come but for mine own.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Your own is yours, and I am yours, and all.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>So far be mine, my most redoubted lord,</li>
  <li>As my true service shall deserve your love.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Well you deserve: they well deserve to have,</li>
  <li>That know the strong'st and surest way to get.</li>
  <li>Uncle, give me your hands: nay, dry your eyes;</li>
  <li>Tears show their love, but want their remedies.</li>
  <li>Cousin, I am too young to be your father,</li>
  <li class="number">Though you are old enough to be my heir.</li>
  <li>What you will have, I'll give, and willing too;</li>
  <li>For do we must what force will have us do.</li>
  <li>Set on towards London, cousin, is it so?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Yea, my good lord.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Then I must not say no.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE IV.  LANGLEY. The DUKE OF YORK's garden.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter the QUEEN and two Ladies</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>What sport shall we devise here in this garden,</li>
  <li>To drive away the heavy thought of care?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lady</li>
  <li>Madam, we'll play at bowls.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>'Twill make me think the world is full of rubs,</li>
  <li class="number">And that my fortune rubs against the bias.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lady</li>
  <li>Madam, we'll dance.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>My legs can keep no measure in delight,</li>
  <li>When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief:</li>
  <li>Therefore, no dancing, girl; some other sport.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lady</li>
  <li class="number">Madam, we'll tell tales.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Of sorrow or of joy?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lady</li>
  <li>Of either, madam.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Of neither, girl:</li>
  <li>For of joy, being altogether wanting,</li>
  <li class="number">It doth remember me the more of sorrow;</li>
  <li>Or if of grief, being altogether had,</li>
  <li>It adds more sorrow to my want of joy:</li>
  <li>For what I have I need not to repeat;</li>
  <li>And what I want it boots not to complain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lady</li>
  <li class="number">Madam, I'll sing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>'Tis well that thou hast cause</li>
  <li>But thou shouldst please me better, wouldst thou weep.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lady</li>
  <li>I could weep, madam, would it do you good.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>And I could sing, would weeping do me good,</li>
  <li class="number">And never borrow any tear of thee.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter a Gardener, and two Servants</li>
  <li>But stay, here come the gardeners:</li>
  <li>Let's step into the shadow of these trees.</li>
  <li>My wretchedness unto a row of pins,</li>
  <li>They'll talk of state; for every one doth so</li>
  <li class="number">Against a change; woe is forerun with woe.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">QUEEN and Ladies retire</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Gardener</li>
  <li>Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks,</li>
  <li>Which, like unruly children, make their sire</li>
  <li>Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight:</li>
  <li>Give some supportance to the bending twigs.</li>
  <li class="number">Go thou, and like an executioner,</li>
  <li>Cut off the heads of too fast growing sprays,</li>
  <li>That look too lofty in our commonwealth:</li>
  <li>All must be even in our government.</li>
  <li>You thus employ'd, I will go root away</li>
  <li class="number">The noisome weeds, which without profit suck</li>
  <li>The soil's fertility from wholesome flowers.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li>Why should we in the compass of a pale</li>
  <li>Keep law and form and due proportion,</li>
  <li>Showing, as in a model, our firm estate,</li>
  <li class="number">When our sea-walled garden, the whole land,</li>
  <li>Is full of weeds, her fairest flowers choked up,</li>
  <li>Her fruit-trees all upturned, her hedges ruin'd,</li>
  <li>Her knots disorder'd and her wholesome herbs</li>
  <li>Swarming with caterpillars?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Gardener</li>
  <li class="number">Hold thy peace:</li>
  <li>He that hath suffer'd this disorder'd spring</li>
  <li>Hath now himself met with the fall of leaf:</li>
  <li>The weeds which his broad-spreading leaves did shelter,</li>
  <li>That seem'd in eating him to hold him up,</li>
  <li class="number">Are pluck'd up root and all by Bolingbroke,</li>
  <li>I mean the Earl of Wiltshire, Bushy, Green.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li>What, are they dead?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Gardener</li>
  <li>They are; and Bolingbroke</li>
  <li>Hath seized the wasteful king. O, what pity is it</li>
  <li class="number">That he had not so trimm'd and dress'd his land</li>
  <li>As we this garden! We at time of year</li>
  <li>Do wound the bark, the skin of our fruit-trees,</li>
  <li>Lest, being over-proud in sap and blood,</li>
  <li>With too much riches it confound itself:</li>
  <li class="number">Had he done so to great and growing men,</li>
  <li>They might have lived to bear and he to taste</li>
  <li>Their fruits of duty: superfluous branches</li>
  <li>We lop away, that bearing boughs may live:</li>
  <li>Had he done so, himself had borne the crown,</li>
  <li class="number">Which waste of idle hours hath quite thrown down.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li>What, think you then the king shall be deposed?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Gardener</li>
  <li>Depress'd he is already, and deposed</li>
  <li>'Tis doubt he will be: letters came last night</li>
  <li>To a dear friend of the good Duke of York's,</li>
  <li class="number">That tell black tidings.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>O, I am press'd to death through want of speaking!</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Coming forward</li>
  <li>Thou, old Adam's likeness, set to dress this garden,</li>
  <li>How dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this unpleasing news?</li>
  <li>What Eve, what serpent, hath suggested thee</li>
  <li class="number">To make a second fall of cursed man?</li>
  <li>Why dost thou say King Richard is deposed?</li>
  <li>Darest thou, thou little better thing than earth,</li>
  <li>Divine his downfall? Say, where, when, and how,</li>
  <li>Camest thou by this ill tidings? speak, thou wretch.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Gardener</li>
  <li class="number">Pardon me, madam: little joy have I</li>
  <li>To breathe this news; yet what I say is true.</li>
  <li>King Richard, he is in the mighty hold</li>
  <li>Of Bolingbroke: their fortunes both are weigh'd:</li>
  <li>In your lord's scale is nothing but himself,</li>
  <li class="number">And some few vanities that make him light;</li>
  <li>But in the balance of great Bolingbroke,</li>
  <li>Besides himself, are all the English peers,</li>
  <li>And with that odds he weighs King Richard down.</li>
  <li>Post you to London, and you will find it so;</li>
  <li class="number">I speak no more than every one doth know.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Nimble mischance, that art so light of foot,</li>
  <li>Doth not thy embassage belong to me,</li>
  <li>And am I last that knows it? O, thou think'st</li>
  <li>To serve me last, that I may longest keep</li>
  <li class="number">Thy sorrow in my breast. Come, ladies, go,</li>
  <li>To meet at London London's king in woe.</li>
  <li>What, was I born to this, that my sad look</li>
  <li>Should grace the triumph of great Bolingbroke?</li>
  <li>Gardener, for telling me these news of woe,</li>
  <li class="number">Pray God the plants thou graft'st may never grow.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt QUEEN and Ladies</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">GARDENER</li>
  <li>Poor queen! so that thy state might be no worse,</li>
  <li>I would my skill were subject to thy curse.</li>
  <li>Here did she fall a tear; here in this place</li>
  <li>I'll set a bank of rue, sour herb of grace:</li>
  <li class="number">Rue, even for ruth, here shortly shall be seen,</li>
  <li>In the remembrance of a weeping queen.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT IV</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  Westminster Hall.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter, as to the Parliament, HENRY BOLINGBROKE,
DUKE OF AUMERLE, NORTHUMBERLAND, HENRY PERCY, LORD
FITZWATER, DUKE OF SURREY, the BISHOP OF CARLISLE,
the Abbot Of Westminster, and another Lord, Herald,
Officers, and BAGOT</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Call forth Bagot.</li>
  <li>Now, Bagot, freely speak thy mind;</li>
  <li>What thou dost know of noble Gloucester's death,</li>
  <li>Who wrought it with the king, and who perform'd</li>
  <li class="number">The bloody office of his timeless end.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BAGOT</li>
  <li>Then set before my face the Lord Aumerle.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Cousin, stand forth, and look upon that man.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BAGOT</li>
  <li>My Lord Aumerle, I know your daring tongue</li>
  <li>Scorns to unsay what once it hath deliver'd.</li>
  <li class="number">In that dead time when Gloucester's death was plotted,</li>
  <li>I heard you say, 'Is not my arm of length,</li>
  <li>That reacheth from the restful English court</li>
  <li>As far as Calais, to mine uncle's head?'</li>
  <li>Amongst much other talk, that very time,</li>
  <li class="number">I heard you say that you had rather refuse</li>
  <li>The offer of an hundred thousand crowns</li>
  <li>Than Bolingbroke's return to England;</li>
  <li>Adding withal how blest this land would be</li>
  <li>In this your cousin's death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">Princes and noble lords,</li>
  <li>What answer shall I make to this base man?</li>
  <li>Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars,</li>
  <li>On equal terms to give him chastisement?</li>
  <li>Either I must, or have mine honour soil'd</li>
  <li class="number">With the attainder of his slanderous lips.</li>
  <li>There is my gage, the manual seal of death,</li>
  <li>That marks thee out for hell: I say, thou liest,</li>
  <li>And will maintain what thou hast said is false</li>
  <li>In thy heart-blood, though being all too base</li>
  <li class="number">To stain the temper of my knightly sword.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Bagot, forbear; thou shalt not take it up.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Excepting one, I would he were the best</li>
  <li>In all this presence that hath moved me so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD FITZWATER</li>
  <li>If that thy valour stand on sympathy,</li>
  <li class="number">There is my gage, Aumerle, in gage to thine:</li>
  <li>By that fair sun which shows me where thou stand'st,</li>
  <li>I heard thee say, and vauntingly thou spakest it</li>
  <li>That thou wert cause of noble Gloucester's death.</li>
  <li>If thou deny'st it twenty times, thou liest;</li>
  <li class="number">And I will turn thy falsehood to thy heart,</li>
  <li>Where it was forged, with my rapier's point.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Thou darest not, coward, live to see that day.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD FITZWATER</li>
  <li>Now by my soul, I would it were this hour.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Fitzwater, thou art damn'd to hell for this.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li class="number">Aumerle, thou liest; his honour is as true</li>
  <li>In this appeal as thou art all unjust;</li>
  <li>And that thou art so, there I throw my gage,</li>
  <li>To prove it on thee to the extremest point</li>
  <li>Of mortal breathing: seize it, if thou darest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">An if I do not, may my hands rot off</li>
  <li>And never brandish more revengeful steel</li>
  <li>Over the glittering helmet of my foe!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Lord</li>
  <li>I task the earth to the like, forsworn Aumerle;</li>
  <li>And spur thee on with full as many lies</li>
  <li class="number">As may be holloa'd in thy treacherous ear</li>
  <li>From sun to sun: there is my honour's pawn;</li>
  <li>Engage it to the trial, if thou darest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Who sets me else? by heaven, I'll throw at all:</li>
  <li>I have a thousand spirits in one breast,</li>
  <li class="number">To answer twenty thousand such as you.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF SURREY</li>
  <li>My Lord Fitzwater, I do remember well</li>
  <li>The very time Aumerle and you did talk.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD FITZWATER</li>
  <li>'Tis very true: you were in presence then;</li>
  <li>And you can witness with me this is true.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF SURREY</li>
  <li class="number">As false, by heaven, as heaven itself is true.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD FITZWATER</li>
  <li>Surrey, thou liest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF SURREY</li>
  <li>Dishonourable boy!</li>
  <li>That lie shall lie so heavy on my sword,</li>
  <li>That it shall render vengeance and revenge</li>
  <li class="number">Till thou the lie-giver and that lie do lie</li>
  <li>In earth as quiet as thy father's skull:</li>
  <li>In proof whereof, there is my honour's pawn;</li>
  <li>Engage it to the trial, if thou darest.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD FITZWATER</li>
  <li>How fondly dost thou spur a forward horse!</li>
  <li class="number">If I dare eat, or drink, or breathe, or live,</li>
  <li>I dare meet Surrey in a wilderness,</li>
  <li>And spit upon him, whilst I say he lies,</li>
  <li>And lies, and lies: there is my bond of faith,</li>
  <li>To tie thee to my strong correction.</li>
  <li class="number">As I intend to thrive in this new world,</li>
  <li>Aumerle is guilty of my true appeal:</li>
  <li>Besides, I heard the banish'd Norfolk say</li>
  <li>That thou, Aumerle, didst send two of thy men</li>
  <li>To execute the noble duke at Calais.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">Some honest Christian trust me with a gage</li>
  <li>That Norfolk lies: here do I throw down this,</li>
  <li>If he may be repeal'd, to try his honour.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>These differences shall all rest under gage</li>
  <li>Till Norfolk be repeal'd: repeal'd he shall be,</li>
  <li class="number">And, though mine enemy, restored again</li>
  <li>To all his lands and signories: when he's return'd,</li>
  <li>Against Aumerle we will enforce his trial.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BISHOP OF CARLISLE</li>
  <li>That honourable day shall ne'er be seen.</li>
  <li>Many a time hath banish'd Norfolk fought</li>
  <li class="number">For Jesu Christ in glorious Christian field,</li>
  <li>Streaming the ensign of the Christian cross</li>
  <li>Against black pagans, Turks, and Saracens:</li>
  <li>And toil'd with works of war, retired himself</li>
  <li>To Italy; and there at Venice gave</li>
  <li class="number">His body to that pleasant country's earth,</li>
  <li>And his pure soul unto his captain Christ,</li>
  <li>Under whose colours he had fought so long.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Why, bishop, is Norfolk dead?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BISHOP OF CARLISLE</li>
  <li>As surely as I live, my lord.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Sweet peace conduct his sweet soul to the bosom</li>
  <li>Of good old Abraham! Lords appellants,</li>
  <li>Your differences shall all rest under gage</li>
  <li>Till we assign you to your days of trial.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUKE OF YORK, attended</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee</li>
  <li class="number">From plume-pluck'd Richard; who with willing soul</li>
  <li>Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields</li>
  <li>To the possession of thy royal hand:</li>
  <li>Ascend his throne, descending now from him;</li>
  <li>And long live Henry, fourth of that name!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">In God's name, I'll ascend the regal throne.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BISHOP OF CARLISLE</li>
  <li>Marry. God forbid!</li>
  <li>Worst in this royal presence may I speak,</li>
  <li>Yet best beseeming me to speak the truth.</li>
  <li>Would God that any in this noble presence</li>
  <li class="number">Were enough noble to be upright judge</li>
  <li>Of noble Richard! then true noblesse would</li>
  <li>Learn him forbearance from so foul a wrong.</li>
  <li>What subject can give sentence on his king?</li>
  <li>And who sits here that is not Richard's subject?</li>
  <li class="number">Thieves are not judged but they are by to hear,</li>
  <li>Although apparent guilt be seen in them;</li>
  <li>And shall the figure of God's majesty,</li>
  <li>His captain, steward, deputy-elect,</li>
  <li>Anointed, crowned, planted many years,</li>
  <li class="number">Be judged by subject and inferior breath,</li>
  <li>And he himself not present? O, forfend it, God,</li>
  <li>That in a Christian climate souls refined</li>
  <li>Should show so heinous, black, obscene a deed!</li>
  <li>I speak to subjects, and a subject speaks,</li>
  <li class="number">Stirr'd up by God, thus boldly for his king:</li>
  <li>My Lord of Hereford here, whom you call king,</li>
  <li>Is a foul traitor to proud Hereford's king:</li>
  <li>And if you crown him, let me prophesy:</li>
  <li>The blood of English shall manure the ground,</li>
  <li class="number">And future ages groan for this foul act;</li>
  <li>Peace shall go sleep with Turks and infidels,</li>
  <li>And in this seat of peace tumultuous wars</li>
  <li>Shall kin with kin and kind with kind confound;</li>
  <li>Disorder, horror, fear and mutiny</li>
  <li class="number">Shall here inhabit, and this land be call'd</li>
  <li>The field of Golgotha and dead men's skulls.</li>
  <li>O, if you raise this house against this house,</li>
  <li>It will the woefullest division prove</li>
  <li>That ever fell upon this cursed earth.</li>
  <li class="number">Prevent it, resist it, let it not be so,</li>
  <li>Lest child, child's children, cry against you woe!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Well have you argued, sir; and, for your pains,</li>
  <li>Of capital treason we arrest you here.</li>
  <li>My Lord of Westminster, be it your charge</li>
  <li class="number">To keep him safely till his day of trial.</li>
  <li>May it please you, lords, to grant the commons' suit.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Fetch hither Richard, that in common view</li>
  <li>He may surrender; so we shall proceed</li>
  <li>Without suspicion.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">I will be his conduct.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Lords, you that here are under our arrest,</li>
  <li>Procure your sureties for your days of answer.</li>
  <li>Little are we beholding to your love,</li>
  <li>And little look'd for at your helping hands.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter DUKE OF YORK, with KING RICHARD II, and
Officers bearing the regalia</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Alack, why am I sent for to a king,</li>
  <li>Before I have shook off the regal thoughts</li>
  <li>Wherewith I reign'd? I hardly yet have learn'd</li>
  <li>To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs:</li>
  <li>Give sorrow leave awhile to tutor me</li>
  <li class="number">To this submission. Yet I well remember</li>
  <li>The favours of these men: were they not mine?</li>
  <li>Did they not sometime cry, 'all hail!' to me?</li>
  <li>So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve,</li>
  <li>Found truth in all but one: I, in twelve thousand, none.</li>
  <li class="number">God save the king! Will no man say amen?</li>
  <li>Am I both priest and clerk? well then, amen.</li>
  <li>God save the king! although I be not he;</li>
  <li>And yet, amen, if heaven do think him me.</li>
  <li>To do what service am I sent for hither?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">To do that office of thine own good will</li>
  <li>Which tired majesty did make thee offer,</li>
  <li>The resignation of thy state and crown</li>
  <li>To Henry Bolingbroke.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Give me the crown. Here, cousin, seize the crown;</li>
  <li class="number">Here cousin:</li>
  <li>On this side my hand, and on that side yours.</li>
  <li>Now is this golden crown like a deep well</li>
  <li>That owes two buckets, filling one another,</li>
  <li>The emptier ever dancing in the air,</li>
  <li class="number">The other down, unseen and full of water:</li>
  <li>That bucket down and full of tears am I,</li>
  <li>Drinking my griefs, whilst you mount up on high.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>I thought you had been willing to resign.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>My crown I am; but still my griefs are mine:</li>
  <li class="number">You may my glories and my state depose,</li>
  <li>But not my griefs; still am I king of those.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Part of your cares you give me with your crown.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Your cares set up do not pluck my cares down.</li>
  <li>My care is loss of care, by old care done;</li>
  <li class="number">Your care is gain of care, by new care won:</li>
  <li>The cares I give I have, though given away;</li>
  <li>They tend the crown, yet still with me they stay.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Are you contented to resign the crown?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Ay, no; no, ay; for I must nothing be;</li>
  <li class="number">Therefore no no, for I resign to thee.</li>
  <li>Now mark me, how I will undo myself;</li>
  <li>I give this heavy weight from off my head</li>
  <li>And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand,</li>
  <li>The pride of kingly sway from out my heart;</li>
  <li class="number">With mine own tears I wash away my balm,</li>
  <li>With mine own hands I give away my crown,</li>
  <li>With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,</li>
  <li>With mine own breath release all duty's rites:</li>
  <li>All pomp and majesty I do forswear;</li>
  <li class="number">My manors, rents, revenues I forego;</li>
  <li>My acts, decrees, and statutes I deny:</li>
  <li>God pardon all oaths that are broke to me!</li>
  <li>God keep all vows unbroke that swear to thee!</li>
  <li>Make me, that nothing have, with nothing grieved,</li>
  <li class="number">And thou with all pleased, that hast all achieved!</li>
  <li>Long mayst thou live in Richard's seat to sit,</li>
  <li>And soon lie Richard in an earthly pit!</li>
  <li>God save King Harry, unking'd Richard says,</li>
  <li>And send him many years of sunshine days!</li>
  <li class="number">What more remains?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>No more, but that you read</li>
  <li>These accusations and these grievous crimes</li>
  <li>Committed by your person and your followers</li>
  <li>Against the state and profit of this land;</li>
  <li class="number">That, by confessing them, the souls of men</li>
  <li>May deem that you are worthily deposed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Must I do so? and must I ravel out</li>
  <li>My weaved-up folly? Gentle Northumberland,</li>
  <li>If thy offences were upon record,</li>
  <li class="number">Would it not shame thee in so fair a troop</li>
  <li>To read a lecture of them? If thou wouldst,</li>
  <li>There shouldst thou find one heinous article,</li>
  <li>Containing the deposing of a king</li>
  <li>And cracking the strong warrant of an oath,</li>
  <li class="number">Mark'd with a blot, damn'd in the book of heaven:</li>
  <li>Nay, all of you that stand and look upon,</li>
  <li>Whilst that my wretchedness doth bait myself,</li>
  <li>Though some of you with Pilate wash your hands</li>
  <li>Showing an outward pity; yet you Pilates</li>
  <li class="number">Have here deliver'd me to my sour cross,</li>
  <li>And water cannot wash away your sin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>My lord, dispatch; read o'er these articles.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Mine eyes are full of tears, I cannot see:</li>
  <li>And yet salt water blinds them not so much</li>
  <li class="number">But they can see a sort of traitors here.</li>
  <li>Nay, if I turn mine eyes upon myself,</li>
  <li>I find myself a traitor with the rest;</li>
  <li>For I have given here my soul's consent</li>
  <li>To undeck the pompous body of a king;</li>
  <li class="number">Made glory base and sovereignty a slave,</li>
  <li>Proud majesty a subject, state a peasant.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>My lord —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>No lord of thine, thou haught insulting man,</li>
  <li>Nor no man's lord; I have no name, no title,</li>
  <li class="number">No, not that name was given me at the font,</li>
  <li>But 'tis usurp'd: alack the heavy day,</li>
  <li>That I have worn so many winters out,</li>
  <li>And know not now what name to call myself!</li>
  <li>O that I were a mockery king of snow,</li>
  <li class="number">Standing before the sun of Bolingbroke,</li>
  <li>To melt myself away in water-drops!</li>
  <li>Good king, great king, and yet not greatly good,</li>
  <li>An if my word be sterling yet in England,</li>
  <li>Let it command a mirror hither straight,</li>
  <li class="number">That it may show me what a face I have,</li>
  <li>Since it is bankrupt of his majesty.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Go some of you and fetch a looking-glass.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit an attendant</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>Read o'er this paper while the glass doth come.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Fiend, thou torment'st me ere I come to hell!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Urge it no more, my Lord Northumberland.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>The commons will not then be satisfied.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>They shall be satisfied: I'll read enough,</li>
  <li>When I do see the very book indeed</li>
  <li>Where all my sins are writ, and that's myself.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Re-enter Attendant, with a glass</li>
  <li class="number">Give me the glass, and therein will I read.</li>
  <li>No deeper wrinkles yet? hath sorrow struck</li>
  <li>So many blows upon this face of mine,</li>
  <li>And made no deeper wounds? O flattering glass,</li>
  <li>Like to my followers in prosperity,</li>
  <li class="number">Thou dost beguile me! Was this face the face</li>
  <li>That every day under his household roof</li>
  <li>Did keep ten thousand men? was this the face</li>
  <li>That, like the sun, did make beholders wink?</li>
  <li>Was this the face that faced so many follies,</li>
  <li class="number">And was at last out-faced by Bolingbroke?</li>
  <li>A brittle glory shineth in this face:</li>
  <li>As brittle as the glory is the face;</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Dashes the glass against the ground</li>
  <li>For there it is, crack'd in a hundred shivers.</li>
  <li>Mark, silent king, the moral of this sport,</li>
  <li class="number">How soon my sorrow hath destroy'd my face.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>The shadow of your sorrow hath destroy'd</li>
  <li>The shadow or your face.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Say that again.</li>
  <li>The shadow of my sorrow! ha! let's see:</li>
  <li class="number">'Tis very true, my grief lies all within;</li>
  <li>And these external manners of laments</li>
  <li>Are merely shadows to the unseen grief</li>
  <li>That swells with silence in the tortured soul;</li>
  <li>There lies the substance: and I thank thee, king,</li>
  <li class="number">For thy great bounty, that not only givest</li>
  <li>Me cause to wail but teachest me the way</li>
  <li>How to lament the cause. I'll beg one boon,</li>
  <li>And then be gone and trouble you no more.</li>
  <li>Shall I obtain it?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Name it, fair cousin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>'Fair cousin'? I am greater than a king:</li>
  <li>For when I was a king, my flatterers</li>
  <li>Were then but subjects; being now a subject,</li>
  <li>I have a king here to my flatterer.</li>
  <li class="number">Being so great, I have no need to beg.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Yet ask.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>And shall I have?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>You shall.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Then give me leave to go.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Whither?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Whither you will, so I were from your sights.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Go, some of you convey him to the Tower.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>O, good! convey? conveyers are you all,</li>
  <li>That rise thus nimbly by a true king's fall.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt KING RICHARD II, some Lords, and a Guard</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">On Wednesday next we solemnly set down</li>
  <li>Our coronation: lords, prepare yourselves.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt all except the BISHOP OF CARLISLE, the Abbot
of Westminster, and DUKE OF AUMERLE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Abbot</li>
  <li>A woeful pageant have we here beheld.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">BISHOP OF CARLISLE</li>
  <li>The woe's to come; the children yet unborn.</li>
  <li>Shall feel this day as sharp to them as thorn.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">You holy clergymen, is there no plot</li>
  <li>To rid the realm of this pernicious blot?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Abbot</li>
  <li>My lord,</li>
  <li>Before I freely speak my mind herein,</li>
  <li>You shall not only take the sacrament</li>
  <li class="number">To bury mine intents, but also to effect</li>
  <li>Whatever I shall happen to devise.</li>
  <li>I see your brows are full of discontent,</li>
  <li>Your hearts of sorrow and your eyes of tears:</li>
  <li>Come home with me to supper; and I'll lay</li>
  <li class="number">A plot shall show us all a merry day.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

</section>

<section class="act">

<h2>ACT V</h2>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE I.  London. A street leading to the Tower.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter QUEEN and Ladies</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>This way the king will come; this is the way</li>
  <li>To Julius Caesar's ill-erected tower,</li>
  <li>To whose flint bosom my condemned lord</li>
  <li>Is doom'd a prisoner by proud Bolingbroke:</li>
  <li class="number">Here let us rest, if this rebellious earth</li>
  <li>Have any resting for her true king's queen.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter KING RICHARD II and Guard</li>
  <li>But soft, but see, or rather do not see,</li>
  <li>My fair rose wither: yet look up, behold,</li>
  <li>That you in pity may dissolve to dew,</li>
  <li class="number">And wash him fresh again with true-love tears.</li>
  <li>Ah, thou, the model where old Troy did stand,</li>
  <li>Thou map of honour, thou King Richard's tomb,</li>
  <li>And not King Richard; thou most beauteous inn,</li>
  <li>Why should hard-favour'd grief be lodged in thee,</li>
  <li class="number">When triumph is become an alehouse guest?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Join not with grief, fair woman, do not so,</li>
  <li>To make my end too sudden: learn, good soul,</li>
  <li>To think our former state a happy dream;</li>
  <li>From which awaked, the truth of what we are</li>
  <li class="number">Shows us but this: I am sworn brother, sweet,</li>
  <li>To grim Necessity, and he and I</li>
  <li>Will keep a league till death. Hie thee to France</li>
  <li>And cloister thee in some religious house:</li>
  <li>Our holy lives must win a new world's crown,</li>
  <li class="number">Which our profane hours here have stricken down.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>What, is my Richard both in shape and mind</li>
  <li>Transform'd and weaken'd? hath Bolingbroke deposed</li>
  <li>Thine intellect? hath he been in thy heart?</li>
  <li>The lion dying thrusteth forth his paw,</li>
  <li class="number">And wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage</li>
  <li>To be o'erpower'd; and wilt thou, pupil-like,</li>
  <li>Take thy correction mildly, kiss the rod,</li>
  <li>And fawn on rage with base humility,</li>
  <li>Which art a lion and a king of beasts?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">A king of beasts, indeed; if aught but beasts,</li>
  <li>I had been still a happy king of men.</li>
  <li>Good sometime queen, prepare thee hence for France:</li>
  <li>Think I am dead and that even here thou takest,</li>
  <li>As from my death-bed, thy last living leave.</li>
  <li class="number">In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire</li>
  <li>With good old folks and let them tell thee tales</li>
  <li>Of woeful ages long ago betid;</li>
  <li>And ere thou bid good night, to quit their griefs,</li>
  <li>Tell thou the lamentable tale of me</li>
  <li class="number">And send the hearers weeping to their beds:</li>
  <li>For why, the senseless brands will sympathize</li>
  <li>The heavy accent of thy moving tongue</li>
  <li>And in compassion weep the fire out;</li>
  <li>And some will mourn in ashes, some coal-black,</li>
  <li class="number">For the deposing of a rightful king.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter NORTHUMBERLAND and others</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>My lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is changed:</li>
  <li>You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower.</li>
  <li>And, madam, there is order ta'en for you;</li>
  <li>With all swift speed you must away to France.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithal</li>
  <li>The mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne,</li>
  <li>The time shall not be many hours of age</li>
  <li>More than it is ere foul sin gathering head</li>
  <li>Shalt break into corruption: thou shalt think,</li>
  <li class="number">Though he divide the realm and give thee half,</li>
  <li>It is too little, helping him to all;</li>
  <li>And he shall think that thou, which know'st the way</li>
  <li>To plant unrightful kings, wilt know again,</li>
  <li>Being ne'er so little urged, another way</li>
  <li class="number">To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne.</li>
  <li>The love of wicked men converts to fear;</li>
  <li>That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both</li>
  <li>To worthy danger and deserved death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>My guilt be on my head, and there an end.</li>
  <li class="number">Take leave and part; for you must part forthwith.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Doubly divorced! Bad men, you violate</li>
  <li>A twofold marriage, 'twixt my crown and me,</li>
  <li>And then betwixt me and my married wife.</li>
  <li>Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me;</li>
  <li class="number">And yet not so, for with a kiss 'twas made.</li>
  <li>Part us, Northumberland; I toward the north,</li>
  <li>Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime;</li>
  <li>My wife to France: from whence, set forth in pomp,</li>
  <li>She came adorned hither like sweet May,</li>
  <li class="number">Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>And must we be divided? must we part?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Ay, hand from hand, my love, and heart from heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Banish us both and send the king with me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>That were some love but little policy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li class="number">Then whither he goes, thither let me go.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>So two, together weeping, make one woe.</li>
  <li>Weep thou for me in France, I for thee here;</li>
  <li>Better far off than near, be ne'er the near.</li>
  <li>Go, count thy way with sighs; I mine with groans.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li class="number">So longest way shall have the longest moans.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Twice for one step I'll groan, the way being short,</li>
  <li>And piece the way out with a heavy heart.</li>
  <li>Come, come, in wooing sorrow let's be brief,</li>
  <li>Since, wedding it, there is such length in grief;</li>
  <li class="number">One kiss shall stop our mouths, and dumbly part;</li>
  <li>Thus give I mine, and thus take I thy heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">QUEEN</li>
  <li>Give me mine own again; 'twere no good part</li>
  <li>To take on me to keep and kill thy heart.</li>
  <li>So, now I have mine own again, be gone,</li>
  <li class="number">That I might strive to kill it with a groan.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>We make woe wanton with this fond delay:</li>
  <li>Once more, adieu; the rest let sorrow say.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE II.  The DUKE OF YORK's palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUKE OF YORK and DUCHESS OF YORK</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>My lord, you told me you would tell the rest,</li>
  <li>When weeping made you break the story off,</li>
  <li>of our two cousins coming into London.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Where did I leave?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">At that sad stop, my lord,</li>
  <li>Where rude misgovern'd hands from windows' tops</li>
  <li>Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard's head.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Then, as I said, the duke, great Bolingbroke,</li>
  <li>Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed</li>
  <li class="number">Which his aspiring rider seem'd to know,</li>
  <li>With slow but stately pace kept on his course,</li>
  <li>Whilst all tongues cried 'God save thee,</li>
  <li>Bolingbroke!'</li>
  <li>You would have thought the very windows spake,</li>
  <li class="number">So many greedy looks of young and old</li>
  <li>Through casements darted their desiring eyes</li>
  <li>Upon his visage, and that all the walls</li>
  <li>With painted imagery had said at once</li>
  <li>'Jesu preserve thee! welcome, Bolingbroke!'</li>
  <li class="number">Whilst he, from the one side to the other turning,</li>
  <li>Bareheaded, lower than his proud steed's neck,</li>
  <li>Bespake them thus: 'I thank you, countrymen:'</li>
  <li>And thus still doing, thus he pass'd along.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Alack, poor Richard! where rode he the whilst?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">As in a theatre, the eyes of men,</li>
  <li>After a well-graced actor leaves the stage,</li>
  <li>Are idly bent on him that enters next,</li>
  <li>Thinking his prattle to be tedious;</li>
  <li>Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes</li>
  <li class="number">Did scowl on gentle Richard; no man cried 'God save him!'</li>
  <li>No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home:</li>
  <li>But dust was thrown upon his sacred head:</li>
  <li>Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off,</li>
  <li>His face still combating with tears and smiles,</li>
  <li class="number">The badges of his grief and patience,</li>
  <li>That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd</li>
  <li>The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted</li>
  <li>And barbarism itself have pitied him.</li>
  <li>But heaven hath a hand in these events,</li>
  <li class="number">To whose high will we bound our calm contents.</li>
  <li>To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now,</li>
  <li>Whose state and honour I for aye allow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Here comes my son Aumerle.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Aumerle that was;</li>
  <li class="number">But that is lost for being Richard's friend,</li>
  <li>And, madam, you must call him Rutland now:</li>
  <li>I am in parliament pledge for his truth</li>
  <li>And lasting fealty to the new-made king.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUKE OF AUMERLE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Welcome, my son: who are the violets now</li>
  <li class="number">That strew the green lap of the new come spring?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not:</li>
  <li>God knows I had as lief be none as one.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Well, bear you well in this new spring of time,</li>
  <li>Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime.</li>
  <li class="number">What news from Oxford? hold those justs and triumphs?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>For aught I know, my lord, they do.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>You will be there, I know.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>If God prevent not, I purpose so.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>What seal is that, that hangs without thy bosom?</li>
  <li class="number">Yea, look'st thou pale? let me see the writing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>My lord, 'tis nothing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>No matter, then, who see it;</li>
  <li>I will be satisfied; let me see the writing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>I do beseech your grace to pardon me:</li>
  <li class="number">It is a matter of small consequence,</li>
  <li>Which for some reasons I would not have seen.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see.</li>
  <li>I fear, I fear —  </li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>What should you fear?</li>
  <li class="number">'Tis nothing but some bond, that he is enter'd into</li>
  <li>For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Bound to himself! what doth he with a bond</li>
  <li>That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.</li>
  <li>Boy, let me see the writing.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">I do beseech you, pardon me; I may not show it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">He plucks it out of his bosom and reads it</li>
  <li>Treason! foul treason! Villain! traitor! slave!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>What is the matter, my lord?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Ho! who is within there?</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter a Servant</li>
  <li class="number">Saddle my horse.</li>
  <li>God for his mercy, what treachery is here!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Why, what is it, my lord?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse.</li>
  <li>Now, by mine honour, by my life, by my troth,</li>
  <li class="number">I will appeach the villain.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>What is the matter?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Peace, foolish woman.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>I will not peace. What is the matter, Aumerle.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Good mother, be content; it is no more</li>
  <li class="number">Than my poor life must answer.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Thy life answer!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Bring me my boots: I will unto the king.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Re-enter Servant with boots</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, thou art amazed.</li>
  <li>Hence, villain! never more come in my sight.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">Give me my boots, I say.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Why, York, what wilt thou do?</li>
  <li>Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own?</li>
  <li>Have we more sons? or are we like to have?</li>
  <li>Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?</li>
  <li class="number">And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age,</li>
  <li>And rob me of a happy mother's name?</li>
  <li>Is he not like thee? is he not thine own?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Thou fond mad woman,</li>
  <li>Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?</li>
  <li class="number">A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament,</li>
  <li>And interchangeably set down their hands,</li>
  <li>To kill the king at Oxford.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>He shall be none;</li>
  <li>We'll keep him here: then what is that to him?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">Away, fond woman! were he twenty times my son,</li>
  <li>I would appeach him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Hadst thou groan'd for him</li>
  <li>As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.</li>
  <li>But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect</li>
  <li class="number">That I have been disloyal to thy bed,</li>
  <li>And that he is a bastard, not thy son:</li>
  <li>Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind:</li>
  <li>He is as like thee as a man may be,</li>
  <li>Not like to me, or any of my kin,</li>
  <li class="number">And yet I love him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Make way, unruly woman!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>After, Aumerle! mount thee upon his horse;</li>
  <li>Spur post, and get before him to the king,</li>
  <li>And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.</li>
  <li class="number">I'll not be long behind; though I be old,</li>
  <li>I doubt not but to ride as fast as York:</li>
  <li>And never will I rise up from the ground</li>
  <li>Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE III.  A royal palace.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE, HENRY PERCY, and other Lords</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?</li>
  <li>'Tis full three months since I did see him last;</li>
  <li>If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.</li>
  <li>I would to God, my lords, he might be found:</li>
  <li class="number">Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there,</li>
  <li>For there, they say, he daily doth frequent,</li>
  <li>With unrestrained loose companions,</li>
  <li>Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes,</li>
  <li>And beat our watch, and rob our passengers;</li>
  <li class="number">Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy,</li>
  <li>Takes on the point of honour to support</li>
  <li>So dissolute a crew.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>My lord, some two days since I saw the prince,</li>
  <li>And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">And what said the gallant?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>His answer was, he would unto the stews,</li>
  <li>And from the common'st creature pluck a glove,</li>
  <li>And wear it as a favour; and with that</li>
  <li>He would unhorse the lustiest challenger.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">As dissolute as desperate; yet through both</li>
  <li>I see some sparks of better hope, which elder years</li>
  <li>May happily bring forth. But who comes here?</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUKE OF AUMERLE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Where is the king?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>What means our cousin, that he stares and looks</li>
  <li class="number">So wildly?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>God save your grace! I do beseech your majesty,</li>
  <li>To have some conference with your grace alone.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Exeunt HENRY PERCY and Lords</li>
  <li>What is the matter with our cousin now?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li class="number">For ever may my knees grow to the earth,</li>
  <li>My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth</li>
  <li>Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Intended or committed was this fault?</li>
  <li>If on the first, how heinous e'er it be,</li>
  <li class="number">To win thy after-love I pardon thee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Then give me leave that I may turn the key,</li>
  <li>That no man enter till my tale be done.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Have thy desire.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Within  My liege, beware; look to thyself;</li>
  <li class="number">Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Villain, I'll make thee safe.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Drawing</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Stay thy revengeful hand; thou hast no cause to fear.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Within  Open the door, secure, foolhardy king:</li>
  <li>Shall I for love speak treason to thy face?</li>
  <li class="number">Open the door, or I will break it open.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUKE OF YORK</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>What is the matter, uncle? speak;</li>
  <li>Recover breath; tell us how near is danger,</li>
  <li>That we may arm us to encounter it.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know</li>
  <li class="number">The treason that my haste forbids me show.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise pass'd:</li>
  <li>I do repent me; read not my name there</li>
  <li>My heart is not confederate with my hand.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down.</li>
  <li class="number">I tore it from the traitor's bosom, king;</li>
  <li>Fear, and not love, begets his penitence:</li>
  <li>Forget to pity him, lest thy pity prove</li>
  <li>A serpent that will sting thee to the heart.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>O heinous, strong and bold conspiracy!</li>
  <li class="number">O loyal father of a treacherous son!</li>
  <li>Thou sheer, immaculate and silver fountain,</li>
  <li>From when this stream through muddy passages</li>
  <li>Hath held his current and defiled himself!</li>
  <li>Thy overflow of good converts to bad,</li>
  <li class="number">And thy abundant goodness shall excuse</li>
  <li>This deadly blot in thy digressing son.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd;</li>
  <li>And he shall spend mine honour with his shame,</li>
  <li>As thriftless sons their scraping fathers' gold.</li>
  <li class="number">Mine honour lives when his dishonour dies,</li>
  <li>Or my shamed life in his dishonour lies:</li>
  <li>Thou kill'st me in his life; giving him breath,</li>
  <li>The traitor lives, the true man's put to death.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Within  What ho, my liege! for God's sake,</li>
  <li class="number">let me in.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>What shrill-voiced suppliant makes this eager cry?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>A woman, and thy aunt, great king; 'tis I.</li>
  <li>Speak with me, pity me, open the door.</li>
  <li>A beggar begs that never begg'd before.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">Our scene is alter'd from a serious thing,</li>
  <li>And now changed to 'The Beggar and the King.'</li>
  <li>My dangerous cousin, let your mother in:</li>
  <li>I know she is come to pray for your foul sin.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>If thou do pardon, whosoever pray,</li>
  <li class="number">More sins for this forgiveness prosper may.</li>
  <li>This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rest sound;</li>
  <li>This let alone will all the rest confound.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter DUCHESS OF YORK</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>O king, believe not this hard-hearted man!</li>
  <li>Love loving not itself none other can.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">Thou frantic woman, what dost thou make here?</li>
  <li>Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Sweet York, be patient. Hear me, gentle liege.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Kneels</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Rise up, good aunt.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Not yet, I thee beseech:</li>
  <li class="number">For ever will I walk upon my knees,</li>
  <li>And never see day that the happy sees,</li>
  <li>Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy,</li>
  <li>By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF AUMERLE</li>
  <li>Unto my mother's prayers I bend my knee.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li class="number">Against them both my true joints bended be.</li>
  <li>Ill mayst thou thrive, if thou grant any grace!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face;</li>
  <li>His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest;</li>
  <li>His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast:</li>
  <li class="number">He prays but faintly and would be denied;</li>
  <li>We pray with heart and soul and all beside:</li>
  <li>His weary joints would gladly rise, I know;</li>
  <li>Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow:</li>
  <li>His prayers are full of false hypocrisy;</li>
  <li class="number">Ours of true zeal and deep integrity.</li>
  <li>Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have</li>
  <li>That mercy which true prayer ought to have.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Good aunt, stand up.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Nay, do not say, 'stand up;'</li>
  <li class="number">Say, 'pardon' first, and afterwards 'stand up.'</li>
  <li>And if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach,</li>
  <li>'Pardon' should be the first word of thy speech.</li>
  <li>I never long'd to hear a word till now;</li>
  <li>Say 'pardon,' king; let pity teach thee how:</li>
  <li class="number">The word is short, but not so short as sweet;</li>
  <li>No word like 'pardon' for kings' mouths so meet.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUKE OF YORK</li>
  <li>Speak it in French, king; say, 'pardonne moi.'</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?</li>
  <li>Ah, my sour husband, my hard-hearted lord,</li>
  <li class="number">That set'st the word itself against the word!</li>
  <li>Speak 'pardon' as 'tis current in our land;</li>
  <li>The chopping French we do not understand.</li>
  <li>Thine eye begins to speak; set thy tongue there;</li>
  <li>Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear;</li>
  <li class="number">That hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce,</li>
  <li>Pity may move thee 'pardon' to rehearse.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Good aunt, stand up.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>I do not sue to stand;</li>
  <li>Pardon is all the suit I have in hand.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">I pardon him, as God shall pardon me.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>O happy vantage of a kneeling knee!</li>
  <li>Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again;</li>
  <li>Twice saying 'pardon' doth not pardon twain,</li>
  <li>But makes one pardon strong.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li class="number">With all my heart</li>
  <li>I pardon him.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>A god on earth thou art.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>But for our trusty brother-in-law and the abbot,</li>
  <li>With all the rest of that consorted crew,</li>
  <li class="number">Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels.</li>
  <li>Good uncle, help to order several powers</li>
  <li>To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are:</li>
  <li>They shall not live within this world, I swear,</li>
  <li>But I will have them, if I once know where.</li>
  <li class="number">Uncle, farewell: and, cousin too, adieu:</li>
  <li>Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">DUCHESS OF YORK</li>
  <li>Come, my old son: I pray God make thee new.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE IV.  The same.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter EXTON and Servant</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EXTON</li>
  <li>Didst thou not mark the king, what words he spake,</li>
  <li>'Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear?'</li>
  <li>Was it not so?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li>These were his very words.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EXTON</li>
  <li class="number">'Have I no friend?' quoth he: he spake it twice,</li>
  <li>And urged it twice together, did he not?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Servant</li>
  <li>He did.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EXTON</li>
  <li>And speaking it, he wistly look'd on me,</li>
  <li>And who should say, 'I would thou wert the man'</li>
  <li class="number">That would divorce this terror from my heart;'</li>
  <li>Meaning the king at Pomfret. Come, let's go:</li>
  <li>I am the king's friend, and will rid his foe.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE V.  Pomfret castle.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter KING RICHARD</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>I have been studying how I may compare</li>
  <li>This prison where I live unto the world:</li>
  <li>And for because the world is populous</li>
  <li>And here is not a creature but myself,</li>
  <li class="number">I cannot do it; yet I'll hammer it out.</li>
  <li>My brain I'll prove the female to my soul,</li>
  <li>My soul the father; and these two beget</li>
  <li>A generation of still-breeding thoughts,</li>
  <li>And these same thoughts people this little world,</li>
  <li class="number">In humours like the people of this world,</li>
  <li>For no thought is contented. The better sort,</li>
  <li>As thoughts of things divine, are intermix'd</li>
  <li>With scruples and do set the word itself</li>
  <li>Against the word:</li>
  <li class="number">As thus, 'Come, little ones,' and then again,</li>
  <li>'It is as hard to come as for a camel</li>
  <li>To thread the postern of a small needle's eye.'</li>
  <li>Thoughts tending to ambition, they do plot</li>
  <li>Unlikely wonders; how these vain weak nails</li>
  <li class="number">May tear a passage through the flinty ribs</li>
  <li>Of this hard world, my ragged prison walls,</li>
  <li>And, for they cannot, die in their own pride.</li>
  <li>Thoughts tending to content flatter themselves</li>
  <li>That they are not the first of fortune's slaves,</li>
  <li class="number">Nor shall not be the last; like silly beggars</li>
  <li>Who sitting in the stocks refuge their shame,</li>
  <li>That many have and others must sit there;</li>
  <li>And in this thought they find a kind of ease,</li>
  <li>Bearing their own misfortunes on the back</li>
  <li class="number">Of such as have before endured the like.</li>
  <li>Thus play I in one person many people,</li>
  <li>And none contented: sometimes am I king;</li>
  <li>Then treasons make me wish myself a beggar,</li>
  <li>And so I am: then crushing penury</li>
  <li class="number">Persuades me I was better when a king;</li>
  <li>Then am I king'd again: and by and by</li>
  <li>Think that I am unking'd by Bolingbroke,</li>
  <li>And straight am nothing: but whate'er I be,</li>
  <li>Nor I nor any man that but man is</li>
  <li class="number">With nothing shall be pleased, till he be eased</li>
  <li>With being nothing. Music do I hear?</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Music</li>
  <li>Ha, ha! keep time: how sour sweet music is,</li>
  <li>When time is broke and no proportion kept!</li>
  <li>So is it in the music of men's lives.</li>
  <li class="number">And here have I the daintiness of ear</li>
  <li>To cheque time broke in a disorder'd string;</li>
  <li>But for the concord of my state and time</li>
  <li>Had not an ear to hear my true time broke.</li>
  <li>I wasted time, and now doth time waste me;</li>
  <li class="number">For now hath time made me his numbering clock:</li>
  <li>My thoughts are minutes; and with sighs they jar</li>
  <li>Their watches on unto mine eyes, the outward watch,</li>
  <li>Whereto my finger, like a dial's point,</li>
  <li>Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears.</li>
  <li class="number">Now sir, the sound that tells what hour it is</li>
  <li>Are clamorous groans, which strike upon my heart,</li>
  <li>Which is the bell: so sighs and tears and groans</li>
  <li>Show minutes, times, and hours: but my time</li>
  <li>Runs posting on in Bolingbroke's proud joy,</li>
  <li class="number">While I stand fooling here, his Jack o' the clock.</li>
  <li>This music mads me; let it sound no more;</li>
  <li>For though it have holp madmen to their wits,</li>
  <li>In me it seems it will make wise men mad.</li>
  <li>Yet blessing on his heart that gives it me!</li>
  <li class="number">For 'tis a sign of love; and love to Richard</li>
  <li>Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter a Groom of the Stable</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Groom</li>
  <li>Hail, royal prince!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Thanks, noble peer;</li>
  <li>The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.</li>
  <li class="number">What art thou? and how comest thou hither,</li>
  <li>Where no man never comes but that sad dog</li>
  <li>That brings me food to make misfortune live?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Groom</li>
  <li>I was a poor groom of thy stable, king,</li>
  <li>When thou wert king; who, travelling towards York,</li>
  <li class="number">With much ado at length have gotten leave</li>
  <li>To look upon my sometimes royal master's face.</li>
  <li>O, how it yearn'd my heart when I beheld</li>
  <li>In London streets, that coronation-day,</li>
  <li>When Bolingbroke rode on roan Barbary,</li>
  <li class="number">That horse that thou so often hast bestrid,</li>
  <li>That horse that I so carefully have dress'd!</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>Rode he on Barbary? Tell me, gentle friend,</li>
  <li>How went he under him?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Groom</li>
  <li>So proudly as if he disdain'd the ground.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back!</li>
  <li>That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand;</li>
  <li>This hand hath made him proud with clapping him.</li>
  <li>Would he not stumble? would he not fall down,</li>
  <li>Since pride must have a fall, and break the neck</li>
  <li class="number">Of that proud man that did usurp his back?</li>
  <li>Forgiveness, horse! why do I rail on thee,</li>
  <li>Since thou, created to be awed by man,</li>
  <li>Wast born to bear? I was not made a horse;</li>
  <li>And yet I bear a burthen like an ass,</li>
  <li class="number">Spurr'd, gall'd and tired by jouncing Bolingbroke.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter Keeper, with a dish</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Keeper</li>
  <li>Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>If thou love me, 'tis time thou wert away.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Groom</li>
  <li>What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exit</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Keeper</li>
  <li>My lord, will't please you to fall to?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li class="number">Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Keeper</li>
  <li>My lord, I dare not: Sir Pierce of Exton, who</li>
  <li>lately came from the king, commands the contrary.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee!</li>
  <li>Patience is stale, and I am weary of it.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Beats the keeper</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">Keeper</li>
  <li class="number">Help, help, help!</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter EXTON and Servants, armed</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">KING RICHARD II</li>
  <li>How now! what means death in this rude assault?</li>
  <li>Villain, thy own hand yields thy death's instrument.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him</li>
  <li>Go thou, and fill another room in hell.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">He kills another. Then Exton strikes him down</li>
  <li>That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire</li>
  <li class="number">That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand</li>
  <li>Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land.</li>
  <li>Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high;</li>
  <li>Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Dies</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EXTON</li>
  <li>As full of valour as of royal blood:</li>
  <li class="number">Both have I spill'd; O would the deed were good!</li>
  <li>For now the devil, that told me I did well,</li>
  <li>Says that this deed is chronicled in hell.</li>
  <li>This dead king to the living king I'll bear</li>
  <li>Take hence the rest, and give them burial here.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

<section class="scene">

<h3>SCENE VI.  Windsor castle.</h3>

<div class="stage-direction">Flourish. Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE, DUKE OF YORK,
with other Lords, and Attendants</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Kind uncle York, the latest news we hear</li>
  <li>Is that the rebels have consumed with fire</li>
  <li>Our town of Cicester in Gloucestershire;</li>
  <li>But whether they be ta'en or slain we hear not.</li>
  <li class="stage-direction">Enter NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li class="number">Welcome, my lord what is the news?</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">NORTHUMBERLAND</li>
  <li>First, to thy sacred state wish I all happiness.</li>
  <li>The next news is, I have to London sent</li>
  <li>The heads of Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt, and Kent:</li>
  <li>The manner of their taking may appear</li>
  <li class="number">At large discoursed in this paper here.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>We thank thee, gentle Percy, for thy pains;</li>
  <li>And to thy worth will add right worthy gains.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter LORD FITZWATER</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">LORD FITZWATER</li>
  <li>My lord, I have from Oxford sent to London</li>
  <li>The heads of Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely,</li>
  <li class="number">Two of the dangerous consorted traitors</li>
  <li>That sought at Oxford thy dire overthrow.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot;</li>
  <li>Right noble is thy merit, well I wot.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter HENRY PERCY, and the BISHOP OF CARLISLE</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY PERCY</li>
  <li>The grand conspirator, Abbot of Westminster,</li>
  <li class="number">With clog of conscience and sour melancholy</li>
  <li>Hath yielded up his body to the grave;</li>
  <li>But here is Carlisle living, to abide</li>
  <li>Thy kingly doom and sentence of his pride.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Carlisle, this is your doom:</li>
  <li class="number">Choose out some secret place, some reverend room,</li>
  <li>More than thou hast, and with it joy thy life;</li>
  <li>So as thou livest in peace, die free from strife:</li>
  <li>For though mine enemy thou hast ever been,</li>
  <li>High sparks of honour in thee have I seen.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Enter EXTON, with persons bearing a coffin</div>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EXTON</li>
  <li class="number">Great king, within this coffin I present</li>
  <li>Thy buried fear: herein all breathless lies</li>
  <li>The mightiest of thy greatest enemies,</li>
  <li>Richard of Bordeaux, by me hither brought.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>Exton, I thank thee not; for thou hast wrought</li>
  <li class="number">A deed of slander with thy fatal hand</li>
  <li>Upon my head and all this famous land.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">EXTON</li>
  <li>From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed.</li>
</ol>

<ol class="speech">
  <li class="speaker">HENRY BOLINGBROKE</li>
  <li>They love not poison that do poison need,</li>
  <li>Nor do I thee: though I did wish him dead,</li>
  <li class="number">I hate the murderer, love him murdered.</li>
  <li>The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labour,</li>
  <li>But neither my good word nor princely favour:</li>
  <li>With Cain go wander through shades of night,</li>
  <li>And never show thy head by day nor light.</li>
  <li class="number">Lords, I protest, my soul is full of woe,</li>
  <li>That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow:</li>
  <li>Come, mourn with me for that I do lament,</li>
  <li>And put on sullen black incontinent:</li>
  <li>I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land,</li>
  <li class="number">To wash this blood off from my guilty hand:</li>
  <li>March sadly after; grace my mournings here;</li>
  <li>In weeping after this untimely bier.</li>
</ol>

<div class="stage-direction">Exeunt</div>

</section>

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